TORONTO - Former NHL player Steve Moore and one-time Vancouver Canuck Todd Bertuzzi met face-to-face Monday in a court-ordered mediation hearing aimed at settling a lawsuit before it goes to court.
Moore is seeking US$38 million in lost income and damages following a March 2004 incident where Bertuzzi sucker-punched the former Colorado Avalanche player and drove his head into the ice during a game at Vancouver's GM Place.
The incident ended Moore's career.
Tim Danson, Moore's lawyer, said ''all the parties'' involved in the case attended the mediation but the discussions were confidential.
''The purpose behind mediation for all cases is to facilitate a resolution of the dispute,'' Danson said Tuesday.
Moore, Bertuzzi, Marc Crawford - Bertuzzi's coach with the Canucks at the time - and their lawyers attended the meeting.
No other mediation date has been set.
Named as defendants in Moore's claim are Bertuzzi, the Canucks and the company - Orca Bay or as it is now known, Canucks Sports & Entertainment - that owns the NHL franchise.
Bertuzzi, who now plays for the Calgary Flames, has said Crawford should be held responsible for any damages awarded to Moore. Crawford has claimed Bertuzzi disobeyed instructions to get off the ice before Moore was attacked.
Moore, 29, a native of Windsor, Ont., suffered three fractured vertebrae in his neck, a concussion and facial cuts.
Bertuzzi was charged with assault in June 2004 after a four-month investigation. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation and community service.
He also was suspended from playing in the NHL for 17 months.
Danson said no court date has been set for the lawsuit and the examination for discovery process is not over.