DETROIT – After eight years of litigation and three weeks short of starting a civil trial, Todd Bertuzzi and Steve Moore have reached a settlement out of court, according to multiple reports.
Moore had been suing Bertuzzi for his attack during a NHL game in 2004 which ended Moore's hockey career. Moore was seeking millions of dollars in damages.
Bertuzzi's now infamous attack on Moore happened while he was playing for the Vancouver Canucks and Moore was playing for the Colorado Avalanche. Bertuzzi struck Moore from behind, sending him to the ice head first with Bertuzzi on top of him. Moore suffered a concussion and fractured vertebrae.
The attack allegeldy was in retaliation to Moore's hit on Vancouver captain Markus Naslund during a game earlier in the season. Naslund was injured. Moore claimed the Canucks placed a bounty on his head.
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Bertuzzi pleaded guilty to criminal assault causing bodily harm. He was sentenced to one year probation and 80 hours of community service. He played one more season with the Canucks before going to the Florida Panthers. He joined the Detroit Red Wings in 2007, then signed a contract with the Anaheim Ducks in the offseason.
Bertuzzi returned to Detroit in 2009, where he spent the next five seasons.
Right now, at 39 years old, he's an unrestricted free agent.