Former Chicago Bears' quarterback Jim McMahon and six of his fellow professional football players are suing the National Football League (NFL) over health problems they claim are the result of concussions and other brain injuries they suffered on the field.

McMahon, who revealed last year that he is suffering from memory loss, alleges that the NFL was negligent and that players have suffered from headaches, dizziness and dementia because of football-related injuries. McMahon claims that when he was playing teams did not care if players suffered concussions.

“Back then, it was just tape an aspirin to your helmet and you go back in,” McMahon said.

The other players joining the suit are Ray Easterling, Wayne Radloff, Gerry Feehery, Joe Thomas, Mike Furrey and Steve Kiner.  A separate group of dozens of former players filed a similar suit against the NFL in July.

"The purpose of this lawsuit is to obtain proper funding to address these horrible long-term issues and to compel the NFL to establish a medical monitoring system to reduce the risk that current and future players will end up with the same kind of chronic mental and physical problems,” the plaintiffs said in a joint statement.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told the Associated Press that the league will vigorously contest the claims.

—Source: profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

A New Jersey man has filed a lawsuit against Continental Airlines because of its "cashless cabin" policy.

Michael W. Rosen of Ridgewood, N.J., claims he was improperly deprived last year of in-flight entertainment and cocktails on a 10-hour flight from Hawaii to Newark when he didn't have a credit or debit card with him and the carrier refused to take cash. Rosen accuses Continental of breach of contract, false advertising, violation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and "unlawful discrimination against individuals who do not physically possess a debit or credit card." He seeks an unspecified amount in compensatory damages, punitive damages and damages for mental anguish and emotional distress and indicated he may seek class-action status.

"His perception is that it's a consumer rights issue for people who are subject to airplane regulations and airplane rules," Rosen's lawyer Nathan Kittner said. "He had a credit card in his luggage but his luggage was checked."

The airline maintains that its in-flight service operated "within the guidelines provided by federal law regulating rates, routes and services," and that "there is no law mandating that a private business must accept currency."

—Source: NorthJersey.com

A carpenter in Oklahoma learned the hard way that some football fans and coaches put a premium on team loyalty. Contractor Brent Loveland showed up at Oklahoma State football head coach Mike Gundy's house to begin work on home improvements wearing a gray University of Oklahoma baseball t-shirt.  Upon seeing the rival shirt, Coach Gundy yelled, “how dare you [Loveland] come into my house and offend my wife” wearing that shirt on “OSU soil.” 
 
According to news reports, Loveland proclaimed to Gundy that he had no idea what he was talking about and that Gundy proceeded with profanity which “would make a sailor blush” and began calling him a “stupid idiot.” Loveland apologized and tried to make peace by offering to wear the shirt inside out.  Gundy refused the apology and fired the contractor.
 
Loveland, who claims he was never told or instructed to not wear University of Oklahoma gear at Gundy's house, filed suit in district court against Gundy and his wife, seeking more than $10,000 in damages for termination and embarrassment.

In a statement released through his attorney, Gundy stated, "While I cannot discuss the specifics of pending litigation, I deny the allegations being made and welcome the opportunity to fully resolve the matter."

—Source:  Associated Press and TheMatadorSports.com

A Long Island, NY, man filed a lawsuit seeking the return of his 2-year-old schnauzer, Guapo, and $11 million for the emotional distress of being separated from the dog.
 
Illich Jorquera, 36, filed the lawsuit against his ex-girlfriend, Carla Pimentel, 29, claiming that he came home from a business trip and found that his girlfriend of five years had moved out with the dog.  
 
"He's stalking me. I took my dog and left when he wasn't around because ... he would have tried to stop me," Pimentel said.
 
Jorquera said he and Pimentel bought the dog together for $500.
 
"I was in love with him," Jorquera said. "When he looked at me, it felt like he would be with me forever."

—Source:  UPI.com