Last fall, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill limiting professional athletes from receiving workers' compensation benefits in California if they live and play predominantly outside the state. The bill was proposed to prevent out-of-state athletes from “unfairly targeting” California's workers' comp system. The top U.S. professional sports leagues, led by the NFL, supported the law, believing it could save them from exposure to countless claims from injured athletes.

However, what should have been a victory for the leagues is coming at a cost, according to The LA Times. Publicity from the high-profile battle over the legislation prompted players from around the country to file more than 1,000 injury claims just prior to a September deadline. According to the article, such as huge influx could cost the leagues hundreds of millions of dollars to resolve.

Almost 70% of the claims filed include allegations of head or brain injuries caused by repetitive trauma. Most of the athletes who filed claims never played for a California team and filed claims based on repetitive injuries they say were sustained in part during road games played in the state—the kind of claims that are barred under the new law.

Special Reports /

Calif. Workers' Comp Victory Comes at a Cost for Professional Sports Leagues

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