Report: Bret Hart seeks $2.2-million in suit

[Perfection]

Report: Hart seeks $2.2-million in suit


The Globe and Mail
3/30/2004

The Globe and Mail reports that former wrestler Bret Hart is hoping to pin down one of the world's oldest insurance outfits in a $2.2-million lawsuit that accuses Lloyd's of London of refusing to pay his disability claim for a career-ending concussion he suffered during a 1999 match.

According to a four-page statement of claim filed this week with Alberta's Court of Queen's Bench, Hart received a "severe and violent" kick to the head from opponent Bill Goldberg during a World Championship Wrestling match in Baltimore.

The lawsuit seeks more than $1.2-million in unpaid disability benefits and another $1-million in punitive and aggravated damages for breach of duties.

"Notwithstanding that some people think it's all fake, people get seriously hurt wrestling," Hart's Calgary-based lawyer Kenneth Staroszik told the Globe
 
Hart's brother, Owen died in 1999 when he fell more than five storeys during a wrestling stunt gone wrong, an accident that ended in an $18-million (U.S.) wrongful-death settlement with World Wrestling Entertainment.

"Lloyd's have not denied the claim, but they haven't paid it either," Mr. Staroszik told the Globe. "Things are just going so slow that we've decided we have to start an action."

Hart's career ended shortly after the bout featuring the miscalculated kick. Hart stumbled through the match after getting a motorcycle boot to the head.

Hart continued wrestling despite continual headaches, lethargy, confusion and memory loss. A doctor diagnosed him in January, 2000, with a serious concussion.

"It became apparent that he would not be able to return to the ring without the risk of serious brain damage," Staroszik told the Globe.
Lloyd's, a British insurance market that dates back more than 315 years and had been Hart's insurer since 1998, was alerted to the injury when Mr. Hart lost his job with WCW in October of 2000. More than three years have passed and Hart has seen a Lloyd's neurologist and traded other information with the company, but no payment has materialized, the lawsuit said.

Files from the Globe and Mail were used for this report.
www.tsn.ca/wrestling

[bez]

Dumbass, you dont wanna get hurt don't take part in the sport.  

[Perfection]

^^First of all don't call Bret a dumbass. Second of all if you insurance hasn't paied you for something that happen in 1999 that ended your career, wouldn't you sue to get your money?

[Trauma-san]

Dumbass, you dont wanna get hurt don't take part in the sport.  

Dumbass, if you don't want to pay an insurance claim, DONT INSURE.  He was insured, so they should pay.  Period.  Point.  Blank.  

[bez]

If he was insured and shit then hes entitled to the money.

[MANBEARPIG.]

^thats what this whole thing is about^

[bez]

^thats what this whole thing is about^

I know he was insured and shit but I was just pointing out the risks involved in wrestling, they shouldn't be insured.  I worded all my shit wrong, sorry, its late over here.

[Trauma-san]

I'm fucking lost.  Why did you jump on Bret, if your problem is with the insurance company?  You just said that they shouldn't have insured him... but you blamed him for it, saying he shouldnt' be wrestling if he doesn't want to get hurt.  

[Leroy]

LMAO@ this thread

Bret is the best there is the best there was and the best THERE WILL EVER BE

so he deserves his money!!!

[Perfection]

If the insurance company didn't want to pay Bret, than they should've have taken him as a client.

Bret has done nothing wrong, so no one can nor should blame him for this.

[Left Coast]

LMAO@ this thread

Bret is the best there is the best there was and the best THERE WILL EVER BE

so he deserves his money!!!

well im sure if he tells them that then hes gunna get the money piss easy

[Trauma-san]

^ That was actually pretty funny, lol good goin