Concussion lawsuit lawyers want to question Bettman over stance on CTE
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman may have to further answer to his claim that a direct link between concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) can't yet be proven.
Lawyers for former players who are suing the league over its failure to properly handle head injuries want to question Bettman after the commissioner recently wrote the science linking concussions and CTE "remains nascent."
Bettman's statement came in response to a letter from U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
Related: U.S. Senator 'appalled' by Bettman's latest denial of CTE link
Lead counsel Charles Zimmerman filed Bettman's letter to the court, and wants Bettman to testify under oath in regards to his statements, according to Rick Westhead of TSN.
"We should have the chance now to walk him through some of his denials and find out why he has made his statements and ask him what makes him so sure," Zimmerman said. "Why is he so willing to go against conventional science which says repeated blows to the head cause damage to the brain?"
The NHL did not offer comment on the matter, while NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly is scheduled to be questioned by lawyers in early August.