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ST. JOHN’S BIBLE: Fine art edition on display PAGE 3A
Parker’s family sues NHL after judge rules head trauma issue can’t be class-action BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
Alleging that players like Jeff Parker need not have suffered from avoidable brain damage, the family of the late White Bear Lake hockey player has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the National Hockey League (NHL). Scott Parker, Jeff’s brother, filed the suit late August in California Superior Court for Los Angeles County, in the capacity as trustee of his brother's estate, also naming Jeff’s 5-year-old daughter as a plaintiff.
“My brother Jeff signed up for the concussion lawsuit, and we feel obligated to follow up on his wish to do this,” said Scott Parker, a high school teacher and hockey coach in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. “We were instructed by the judge that this is the way to go about it. “It wasn’t an easy decision for the family, but we kept going back to knowing that Jeff wanted to help younger players in the NHL, to let them know what is coming.” Jeff Parker was among 150-plus former players in a lawsuit originally
filed in 2013 alleging that the NHL promoted violence and fighting to make the league more popular and profitable, while downplaying health risks associated with concussions. That was JJeff ff Parker P k intended to be a class-action case, but a federal judge in St. Paul, Susan Nelson, rejected the class-action status
July 13, on the grounds that it would present “significant case management difficulties.” As a consequence of that ruling, ex-players (or their families) had to choose whether to go it alone against the league. The Parkers elected to sue. The 83-page lawsuit acknowledged that former players knew they might get injured playing in the league, but did not sign up for avoidable brain damage. A key passage reads: "The NHL was aware of the evidence and SEE FAMILY SUES, PAGE 8A
Hoffman Corner convenience store awaits council approval BY DEBRA NEUTKENS EDITOR
GEM LAKE — Three buildings and a shed will come down when the Hy-Vee Fast and Fresh Convenience Store goes up on Hoffman Corner. If it goes up. The deal is pending City Council approval now that the city of Vadnais Heights has relinquished a sliver of land, 0.07 acres, needed for the project. Hy-Vee would build on property owned by Don and Sheila Waldoch that consists of slightly more than 2 acres. That number appeared important to John Birkeland, who owns 80 percent of the land along Hoffman Road, the street Hy-Vee customers will use to access the store. Birkeland asked for clarification of the square footage at a public hearing Sept. 4 before the Planning Commission. A Hy-Vee representative confirmed the number was 2.027 acres, or 88,304 square feet. Birkeland is concerned that infrastructure required for the project will have a huge financial impact on his businesses, possibly costing up to $600,000 in assessments. The financial burden “will take us out,” said Birkeland's wife, Darlene. The family owns White Bear Floral, the Country Lounge, a car lot, several homes and the Cafe Cravings building on Hoffman Road. The 9 acres of land have been in Birkeland's family since 1932.
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Rural reminiscing in Grant Participants in the 9th Annual Grant Heritage Days Tractor Parade roll down a hill near the Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter restaurant Saturday, Sept. 8. The parade, open to all non-walking entrants, including bikes, tractors, cars, equipment, firetrucks and giant plastic cow trailers, was followed by a judging ceremony and a free community picnic.
SEE HY–VEE, PAGE 9A
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