Flyers trainers sue team, claim Zamboni chemicals at practice facility caused cancer, rare medical conditions

Flyers director of medical services Jim McCrossin and assistant athletic trainer Sal Raffa are suing Flyers ownership after they received diagnoses of rare medical conditions they allege came from exposure to chemicals used in the Zambonis at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees.

In their lawsuit, which was first reported by CrossingBroad.com, McCrossin and Raffa allege that the Zambonis at the rink used “gasoline and/or fuel containing and/or producing carcinogens.” According to their research, there are other comparable machines available that do not require gasoline or fuel with carcinogens.

The Zambonis idle in the Zamboni room, which they state lacks appropriate ventilation, and the training room is in close proximity to it, exposing McCrossin and Raffa to the carcinogens, according to the complaint.

McCrossin, who has worked at the facility since 2000, developed “rare medical conditions of essential thrombocythemia, myeloproliferative neoplasm, and most recently, myelofibrosis (blood cancer), which is incurable.” Raffa, who has worked there since 2004, developed a “rare medical condition of essential thrombocythemia, which is incurable.”

Essential thrombocythemia is a disorder that causes the bone marrow to produce a higher-than-normal platelet count, increasing the risk of blood clots.

McCrossin and Raffa remained on staff for the 2021-22 season and continue to be Flyers employees.

“The safety of our employees and guests at the Flyers Training Center and all of our facilities is always a top priority for us,” the Flyers said in a statement. “We have looked into the allegations made by Jim McCrossin and Sal Raffa over the course of several months, and, based on that, believe that their claims have no merit. Beyond that, we cannot comment further given that this matter is in litigation.”

The 27-page complaint was filed by the law firm Kline & Specter on behalf of McCrossin and Raffa, as well as their wives, Robyn McCrossin and Holly Raffa, on April 12. It names 11 defendants.

The defendants include Flyers ownership Comcast Holdings Corp.; Comcast Spectacor Holding Co. LLC; Comcast Spectacor LLC; and Comcast Spectacor Ventures LLC. It also includes the rinks, Flyers Skate Zone LP; FPS LLC; FPS LP; FPS Rink LLC; FPS Rink LP as well as the companies FPS Urban Renewal Inc. and companies “who owned and/or controlled of the property at issue, engaged in emitting, creating, using, handling, transporting, storing, transferring, dispensing, distributing, and/or permitting exposure to benzene, and/or other carcinogens at the property at issue.”

The complaint states that the defendants knew the Zambonis required proper ventilation because the information was included in operations manuals, safety information and/or maintenance information. They allege the defendants knew the Zambonis were emitting dangerous chemicals and that they knew or should have known exposure to these chemicals and fumes could lead to health problems for McCrossin and Raffa.

They claim the defendants’ “acts and omissions” are a factual and proximate cause of “severe, permanent, and grievous personal injuries and damages” for McCrossin and Raffa, which include diagnoses, need for treatment, physical pain and suffering, and loss of income.

“Jimmy McCrossin and Sal Raffa are beloved figures in Philadelphia sports and it is our honor to represent them,” attorneys Tom Kline, Jim Waldenberger, and Elia Robertson from Kline & Specter said in a statement. “Their cancer diagnoses are tragic and their exposure to toxic compounds in the workplace was unnecessary and preventable. We look forward to seeking justice for them in this very important case.”