NHL linesman Don Henderson files lawsuit against Calgary Flames’ Dennis Wideman

NHL linesman Don Henderson files lawsuit against Calgary Flames Dennis Wideman

NHL linesman Don Henderson has filed a lawsuit against Calgary Flames defenseman Chris Wideman for $10.25 million. The lawsuit is in regards to the hit on Henderson last year, which resulted in Wideman being suspended for 20 games.

Henderson is claiming injury damages as a result of the hit from behind that Wideman laid on him on January 27, 2016 during a game against the Nashville Predators. There was much debate surrounding the hit and whether or not Wideman was in the right state of mind, as he had just been hit hard into the boards.

The NHL decided to dismiss the fact that he could have been concussed and handed Wideman a 20-game suspension. However, Wideman took the suspension to court and it was then reduced to 10 games. The NHL tried to restore the 20-game suspension, but a U.S. District Court denied their attempt, and Wideman was ultimately suspended for 10 games.

As a result of the suspension being lessened to 10 games instead of 20, Wideman was reimbursed $282,258.06 by the NHL. The appeal process took roughly a month and a half, and did not see Wideman regain the nine games he missed in the initial 20-game suspension handed to him by the league.

To refresh your memory, this was the hit Wideman laid on Henderson:

Henderson, who has not refereed since the hit, is claiming damages and likely loss of wage due to being out of work. Some of the injuries included in the lawsuit by Henderson are injury to the neck, requiring surgical intervention; injury to the back; shoulder injury; pain, numbness and tingling in the right arm and hand; injury to the right knee; shock, anxiety and depression; headaches; permanent and partial disability, and multiple others.

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It is unlikely that this lawsuit will be settled anytime soon, but stay tuned for updates throughout the coming months.