Judge tosses suit over ‘race-norming’ in NFL dementia tests

By MARYCLAIRE DALE Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that challenged so-called race-norming in dementia tests for retired NFL players. Lawyers for some former players say the practice assumes Black people start with worse cognitive functioning than white people. That makes it harder for them to show injury and qualify for awards. The judge in Philadelphia on Monday instead ordered the NFL and the lead lawyer overseeing the settlement to use mediation. That process would appear to exclude the Black players who sued. They are Kevin Henry and Najeh Davenport. The settlement fund has paid more than $765 million to retired players for neurocognitive problems linked to NFL concussions.