Aaron Hernandez's Family Suing NFL, Patriots

After discovering that Hernandez had a severe case of CTE, Hernandez's lawyer is suing the NFL and the Patriots on behalf of Hernandez's daughter.

After discovering that Aaron Hernandez had a severe case of Stage III Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, Jose Baez, an attorney for Hernandez, is suing the NFL and the New England Patriots on behalf of Hernandez's daughter. 

Hernandez was serving a life sentence for murdering Odin Lloyd when he was found to have committed suicide in his cell in April. Baez announced on Thursday that researchers had found “the most severe case [of CTE] they had ever seen in someone of Aaron’s age,” reports the New York Times. Hernandez was 27 when he died, but the lawsuit against the NFL and the Patriots says Hernandez had "Stage III CTE usually seen in players with a median age of death of 67 years."

More from the suit:

By the time Aaron entered the NFL in 2010, Defendants were fully aware of the damage that could be inflicted from repetitive impact injuries and failed to disclose, treat or protect him from the dangers of such damage. this complain seeks damages for his young daughter Avellie from Defendants the NFL and the New England Patriots. 

Hernandez's family said the former tight end had early brain atrophy, or shrinkage, and large perforations in the septum pellucidum, a central membrane.

What legal impact could the potential discovery of CTE in Aaron Hernandez's brain have?

The Times' report did not specify what Baez is seeking from the lawsuit, but the discover of CTE could benefit Hernandez' ex-fiancee and daughter.

The NFL reached a class-action settlement with ex-NFL players in 2013, and players who were found to have CTE under the age of 40 could collect up to $4 million. But players who died after the settlement was approved in April 2015 are not entitled to a reward, though the Hernandez could seek a special exception, according to the The New York Times.