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Hernandez Lawyers Pull CTE Suit Against NFL, Plan To Refile

BOSTON (AP) — Lawyers for former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez say they are moving their lawsuit against the NFL from federal to state court because they can make more claims there.

Notable Deaths In 2017
Former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez hung himself in his prison cell on April 19, 2017. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

The attorneys sued the league last month after Hernandez was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. They accused the NFL of hiding the true dangers of football. They sought damages on behalf of Hernandez's 4-year-old daughter for the loss of her father's companionship.

The federal case was dismissed on Friday. Attorney George Leontire told The Associated Press it will be refiled on Monday in Suffolk County Superior Court.

Shayanna Hernandez
Attorney Jose Baez and Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez (WBZ-TV)

Hernandez killed himself this spring in the prison cell where he was serving a life sentence for murder. An examination of his brain showed that he had severe CTE, which has been shown to cause depression, violent mood swings and other cognitive problems in football players and others who have been subjected to repetitive head trauma.

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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