Former NFL receiver files bombshell $300 million lawsuit over alleged surgery scheme that ended his career
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Former NFL receiver files bombshell $300 million lawsuit over alleged surgery scheme that ended his career
An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows David Bell, former Cleveland Browns receiver, has filed a lawsuit against Jefferson Health and 14 defendants for over $300 million in damages. , Image 2 shows Cleveland Browns player David Njoku (18) running with the ball during the AFC Wild Card game against the Houston Texans
Bridget Reilly·NY Post Sports
·
3 min read
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A new lawsuit surrounding the NFL has emerged.
Former Browns receiver David Bell has filed a civil lawsuit against Jefferson Health entities and 14 other defendants, including surgeon William Meyers M.D., on Thursday for more than $300 million in damages, claiming an unneccesary core muscle surgery nearly killed him and cost him his professional career.
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Bell filed the lawsuit at Court of Common Pleas of of Philadelphia County and is represented by Merson Law.
Per the lawsuit, obtained by The Post, Bell alleges Meyers and other defendants "duped" him into having what he was told would be a "relatively low-risk" procedure, also called "Meyers Repair," to resolve residual pain from a previous hip injury.
David Bell, former Cleveland Browns receiver, has filed a lawsuit against Jefferson Health and 14 defendants for over $300 million in damages. Getty Images
Yet, the 25-year-old awoke to learn he escaped death due to a "vascular injury," which caused him to be rushed to Thomas Jefferson Hospital for emergency vascular reconstruction.
The repair stopped fatal blood and limb loss but cut his NFL career short.
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The lawsuit goes on to state the defendants built their reputation on misrepresented pelvic MRI findings to justify surgeries. They are alleged to have billed patients for MRIs that were "fraudulent" and served as cover ups for "dubious" surgeries in what was a financial scheme, prioritzing money over a patient's health.
Bell alleges he was a victim of both claims when he sought out defendants Meyers and Dr. Adam Zoga among others for their reputation, and was classified as a surgical candidate for "Meyers Repair" following the results of his May 19, 2025 pelvic MRI.
Cleveland Browns wide receiver David Bell (18) carries the ball in the second quarter during the AFC Wild Card game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Jefferson Health has not replied to The Post's request for comment.
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"What happened to David Bell, an elite NFL athlete, ruined his career and never should have happened. We will get full justice for him and put an end to the conspiracy that lead to this career ending injury, as we have alleged," Bell's attorney's Nathan Werksman and Brad Sohn told The Post in a statement.
The Indianapolis native was in the NFL for three years after he was drafted in the third round in 2022 out of Purdue.
Cleveland Browns' David Bell (18) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. Getty Images
The best of Bell's three seasons with the Browns came in 2023, in which he turned 14 receptions into 167 yards and three touchdowns over 15 games.
His final NFL game came Week 2 of the 2024 season when suffered a season-ending hip injury against the Jaguars. The injury did not involve surgery.
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The happening was before Bell suffered the separate off-field surgical complication during the offseason.
"We undertook a year-long investigation into this matter in which a number of truly world-leading surgeons and radiologists examined the matter, with many of them doing so on a no-fee basis. The findings were nothing short of astonishing and give us a high degree of confidence we can prove that hundred of millions of dollars going to Dr. Bill Meyers, Dr. Adam Zoga, Jefferson, and the Vincera Institute to perform these surgeries were prioritized over the basical medical principle of First Do No Harm, as we have alleged in the Complaint," Sohn said in a press release.
