Concussion case comes to a head

Court upholds NFL's $1 billion settlement plan for former players

A US federal appeals court on Monday upheld an estimated $1 billion plan by the NFL to settle thousands of concussion lawsuits filed by former players - potentially ending a troubled chapter in league history.

The decision comes nearly a year after a district judge approved the revised settlement. If there are no further appeals, former players already diagnosed with brain injuries linked to repeated concussions could begin receiving benefits within 3-4 months, a plaintiffs' attorney said.