Top U.S. court declines to hear challenge to NFL concussion deal

WASHINGTON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a challenge to the National Football League's estimated $1 billion settlement of concussion-related lawsuits with thousands of retired players brought by a small group of them who contend it is flawed. The justices rejected an appeal of a lower court ruling in April upholding the settlement, which resolved litigation brought by players who accused the NFL of covering up information that tied head trauma like that suffered playing football to permanent brain damage. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham)