The Puck Stops Here

Today it was announced that Steve Moore has filed suit in Ontario court suing Todd Bertuzzi and the Vancouver Canucks over the March 8th, 2004 sucker punch that broke his neck and effectively ended his career. Earlier he had filed suit in Colorado (in part because it was the jurisdiction that would have the best chance of giving him a huge amounts of money) but it was thrown out because of lack of jurisdiction. Denver judge Shelley Gillman wrote British Columbia bears the most significant relationship to Moore's claims in the judgement.

Moore is not listening to the idea of suing in B.C. At least he chose Canada this time. Ontario appears to be the choice because that is where he lives.

Moore is suing for $15 million in lost income, $2 million in punative damages, $1 million in aggravated damages. His parents who are also named in the lawsuit (Jack and Anna Moore) are seeking $1.5 million in damages.

Moore was wronged and deserves some compensation for the violent way his career ended, but he is still seeking far more money than he can expect to get. Steve Moore would have turned 27 before this season opened. A forward who is 27 who has scored 5 career goals and 12 career points is highly unlikely to make $15 million in an NHL career. There is a good chance that he would not have lasted much longer in the NHL had he reamined healthy.

TSN's story is here.