Sports

Bertuzzi and Moore Meet in Toronto

by TFleming | December 16, 2008 at 09:51 am

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Former Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore and former Vancouver Canuck winger Todd Bertuzzi met in Toronto on Monday to try and resolve the over four year old incident that ended Moore's very short career. Moore and his lawyers are seeking $38 million for loss of income and has named Bertuzzi, The Canucks, and Orca Bay defendants in the case.

Bertuzzi, 33, also issued a third-party claim contending that Crawford should pay any damages awarded to Moore, who suffered three broken vertebrae in his neck and a concussion during the attack.

The third-party claim argues Crawford should be named in the suit for allegedly urging his players, including Bertuzzi, to make Moore "pay the price" when Crawford "knew or ought to have known that this was likely to result in injury to Moore."

Crawford claims Bertuzzi acted in "direct disobedience" to instructions from the Canucks bench when he attacked Moore, breaking his neck and ending his career, according to court documents filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

Crawford also says the Vancouver coaching staff was trying to get Bertuzzi off the ice before the incident. Bertuzzi was charged with assault in June 2004 after a four-month investigation. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation and community service.

Bertuzzi was suspended indefinitely from his attack on Moore because of the severity of the hit but was reinstated 17 months later on Aug. 8, 2005. Over the past three seasons Bertuzzi has played for numerous teams including Florida, Detroit, Anaheim and Calgary where he is presently playing. Hopefully this will be resolved quickly and out of court because the last thing the NHL wants is a multi-million dollar lawsuit hanging overhead. This will also be a good opportunity for Moore and Bertuzzi to work out their differences face to face.

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Jarrett Martineau

at 10:10 on December 16th, 2008

This is going to get nasty! Oh to be a fly on the wall at this face-to-face...

dfndr13

at 15:00 on December 22nd, 2008

Bertuzzi should have been suspended until Moore was able to play in the NHL again. Any player who injures another player illegally should have to wait until the injured player makes it back to the ice before their suspension begins.

Bertuzzi will never admit that what he did was his fault and his alone. It doesn't matter what the coach said on the bench, Bertuzzi is supposed to be an adult who can think for himself, if he is telling us that he isn't able to do that, then he should not be allowed to play in the NHL.

Todd, please grow up, accept the responsibility for your actions and make reparations.