Gag order lifted in Mike Peluso’s brain damage case against NHL

Mike Peluso’s legal counsel has seen a gag order and fine retracted in case against four NHL teams.

Stephen Berger, the legal counsel of Mike Peluso, has seen a fine related to Peluso’s workers compensation case retracted after an appeals board sided with the former NHL player’s legal team.

Workers’ Compensation judge Alicia D. Hawthorne originally levied a “gag order” and a $1,500 fine against Berger after Peluso’s team violated a verbal agreement that neither legal camp would involve the media. When Peluso had an interview with a Minnesota TV channel about his legal battles, Hawthorne issued a notice of intent to impose the fine, according to TSN.

The case began in 2012 when Peluso filed a workers’ compensation claim against four of the five teams he played for, and the Devils legal counsel. Peluso claims that he has been left disabled due to his former teams not protecting his health during his career, resulting in permanent brain damage.

After seeing the “gag order” was imposed, Peluso’s counsel took it to the Appeals Board. They have sided with Peluso’s counsel stating, “the judge overseeing Mike Peluso’s workers’ compensation lawsuit did not have the ability to impose a “gag order” on the one-time NHL enforcer.”

Peluso and his legal counsel has stated that he has spent $75,000 in medical care and has undergone multiple surgeries to ensure his quality of life is the best it can be. Peluso has stated that the $75,000 has gone to neurology treatments and anti-seizure medication. This, as well as nine grand mal surgeries due to injuries suffered during his playing career.

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Peluso played in 458 games during his NHL career, making a name for himself as an enforcer for the Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators, New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames. Peluso had 38 goals, 52 assists and 1,951 penalty minutes during his career.