Tag: Lawsuit

Alvin Kamara reaches confidential settlement in civil suit, submits written apology

Representing the victim in a civil suit, attorney Tony Buzbee shared a written apology from Alvin Kamara and news of a settlement. Now we wait for an NFL suspension:

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CukA7RTA8VK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee shared an announcement on social media that he reached a confidential settlement in a Louisiana civil lawsuit against New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara, having represented the victim in a beating at a Las Vegas nightclub in Feb. 2022. As part of their agreement, Kamara submitted a written apology to the victim, Darnell Greene.

The details of this out-of-court settlement remain unclear, but that should wrap things up as far as the law is concerned. Kamara agreed to a plea deal in Nevada court on a misdemeanor charge, avoiding more serious felony charges but paying out more than $100,000 in medical bills. Now that the criminal and civil suits are concluded and the legal process has wrapped up, the NFL will likely take action in handing down a suspension.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Alvin Kamara strikes plea deal on misdemeanor charge in Las Vegas court

Alvin Kamara struck a plea deal on a misdemeanor charge in Las Vegas court, will avoid felony charges but may still face suspension:

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

As first reported by 8 News Las Vegas’ David Charns and confirmed by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, New Orleans Saints running back Kamara agreed to plea no contest on a misdemeanor charge stemming from his alleged involvement in a Feb. 2022 beating in Las Vegas. This means Kamara is no longer facing felony charges in Nevada, nor will he be required to miss time in training camp to attend his previously-scheduled court date.

Instead, Kamara will pay a $500 fine and foot the bill for more than $100,000 in medical bills to the victim, as well as fulfilling 30 hours of community service.

But this isn’t necessarily over. There is still a civil suit against Kamara filed in Louisiana, and now the NFL is likely to take action with affairs in criminal court concluded. The league has suspended players before despite a lack of convictions or charges being dropped and that precedent is still in play for Kamara.

So how much time could he miss during the season? That’s unclear. The NFL’s personal conduct policy says that violations involving “criminal assault or battery” with a felony charge would qualify for a six-game suspension, so that’s likely the higher end of any expected suspension. Three or four games feels more likely, and Kamara can appeal the decision to try and reduce it further, but we’ll have to wait and see how this plays out. At least this is one less distraction for the team to deal with during the offseason.

Update: Kamara agreed to an undisclosed settlement with the victim, Darnell Greene, per Greene’s attorney Tony Buzbee.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Report: Jay Monahan told PGA Tour employees it couldn’t afford legal battle with Saudi Arabia

Monahan reportedly said the Tour had spent $50 million in legal fees and $100 million to pay increased purses.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=none image=]

Details are starting to emerge about the reasons behind this week’s news about the PGA Tour’s merger with the Public Investment Fund and DP World Tour to form a new global golf entity.

The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan told Tour employees on Thursday it couldn’t financially afford to keep spending millions of dollars in its legal fight against the PIF while increasing purse sizes to combat players defecting to the LIV Golf League.

“We cannot compete with a foreign government with unlimited money,” Monahan reportedly told employees. “This was the time. We waited to be in the strongest possible position to get this deal in place.”

The report states Monahan told Tour employees the model wasn’t sustainable. The PIF has a reported $620 billion in assets. This meeting came two days after the announced deal to form a new for-profit entity.

Monahan reportedly told employees the Tour had spent $50 million in legal fees and dipped into reserves for $100 million to pay increased purses in designated events and other bonuses.

A PGA Tour spokesperson provided a statement to ESPN, saying: “To characterize that this agreement was made due to litigation costs and other use of reserves is an oversimplification. With the end of the fractured landscape in the world of men’s professional golf, the PGA Tour has never been a more valuable property.

RBC Canadian Open: Photos

“The Public Investment Fund has recognized that value and the opportunity for [return on investment] with their investment in the tour. Additionally, this transaction will make professional golf more competitive with other professional sports and sports leagues.”

The agreement ended all legal disputes between PIF and the PGA Tour.

During Tuesday’s PGA Tour players’ meeting in Toronto, Tour pros called PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan a hypocrite and said it was time for new leadership. The latter remark drew a standing ovation.

“Jay took the arrows, took the hit, he got lambasted and was burned in effigy, but is he going to lose his job? No,” a former Tour executive told Golfweek on Friday.

The PGA Tour’s 2023 season continued as is come Thursday, with the RBC Canadian Open continuing Saturday before the USGA’s U.S. Open in Los Angeles next week. The LIV Golf League’s season, which has seven events remaining in 2023, is expected to finish this year, too.

Further details on the merger are to be determined.

[lawrence-related id=778363195,778362926,778362595,778362573]

Buccaneers take legal action against Saints in trademark dispute

The Bucs have taken legal action against the Saints in a trademark dispute centered on New Orleans’ cheerleading team:

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

This is almost comical. Washington, D.C.-based trademark attorney Josh Gerben shared news on Friday that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are taking legal action against one of their division rivals, claiming that the New Orleans Saints’ 2022 rebranding of their cheer team violates a trademark.

Last year, the “Saintsations” were renamed the “Saints Cheer Krewe” as a nod to New Orleans’ centuries-long tradition of revelry krewes on Mardi Gras floats, and as a more inclusive practice given the addition of male performers to the team. It makes sense seeing as New Orleans also takes pride in its male dance groups like the 610 Stompers.

As for the merits to the Buccaneers’ complaint: Gerben notes that Tampa Bay has trademarked “krewe” for use in its loyalty club member program, team promotions and marketing, apparel, memorabilia and other merchandise, though the Saints have thus far exclusively used the term for their cheerleaders.

It’s kind of embarrassing that Tampa Bay is making a fuss over this, much less taking legal action when they could probably have settled things out of court. That could still be the conclusion, preventing anything from going to court, but it’s something to watch out for in the months ahead.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Judge grants LIV Golf stay of discovery pending appeal, rules against PGA Tour in latest filing

The timeline for a trial could move well into 2024 and beyond.

LIV Golf picked up a rare win in its antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour.

Last month Judge Beth Labson Freeman ruled in the U.S. Northern District of California court that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund – as well as its governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan were both subject to discovery and depositions in the United States, a major blow to LIV’s legal team.

LIV’s lawyers then appealed the decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in order to further delay the discovery process. On Wednesday, Judge Freeman granted the PIF and Al-Rumayyan’s motion for a stay of discovery pending the appeal, a decision that could take 1-2 years according to Jodi Balsam, a professor at Brooklyn Law School and former counsel for the NFL.

The Tour felt it was unfair that it was forced to continue complying with discovery while the PIF and Al-Rumayyan were able to kick the issue down the road, and argued LIV lawyers could benefit from “gamesmanship.”

Judge Freeman disagreed and denied the PGA Tour’s cross-motion for a stay of all discovery.

“Memories fade, and documents may disappear over time. Thus, a full halt of discovery would harm the litigation process,” the court filing read. Judge Freeman also called the Tour’s gamesmanship claim “unconvincing.”

The original lawsuit was filed in August of 2022 by Phil Mickelson and went on to include 10 other players, but has since been taken over by LIV Golf, which is almost exclusively financed by the PIF. The wealth fund, organized in 1971 as a means for the Saudi Arabian government to invest in various projects and companies, has been estimated to be worth over $650 billion.

The Tour then filed a countersuit against LIV. In February, the court ruled the Tour could add the PIF and Al-Rumayyan as defendants in its countersuit, dragging the financiers deeper into the judicial weeds.

So, what comes next? Antitrust cases involve not just investigating a company, but rather an entire industry. For that reason, the discovery process can be voluminous and exhausting, and the case – currently set for a Jan. 8, 2024 trial date – is still early in the discovery phase. The Tour has argued for a November 12, 2024 trial date, while LIV has made a case for May 17, 2024.

If they lose their appeal, PIF and Al-Rumayyan could comply and provide depositions and documents, though LIV lawyers have previously claimed that taking part in depositions would violate Saudi Arabian law. If they were to comply, the ramifications could have adverse effects on the PIF’s other investments in the States. Does Al-Rumayyan want to answer questions about the PIF’s motives given that LIV Golf has long been criticized as a way for Saudi Arabia to sportswash its human rights record? It’s unlikely.

They could also refuse to comply by not submitting documents or failing to meet deadlines, but that opens the door for the court to issue a ruling of contempt, which may lead to sanctions and fines that could totally upend LIV’s case.

A decision has yet to be made on revised trial deadlines just yet, but previous comments in filings state that if the discovery process is delayed, the case may be, too. Until then, we continue to wait.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4 category=451198867]

Peter Uihlein removes name from LIV Golf antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour

Only Bryson DeChambeau and Matt Jones remain as the final two player plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Peter Uihlein removed his name from LIV Golf’s antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour, according to a Thursday filing in the U.S. Northern District of California, leaving just Bryson DeChambeau and Matt Jones as the final two player plaintiffs.

The original lawsuit was filed in August of 2022 by Phil Mickelson and went on to include 10 other players, but has since been taken over by LIV Golf, which is almost exclusively financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The wealth fund, organized in 1971 as a means for the Saudi Arabian government to invest in various projects and companies, has been estimated to be worth over $650 billion.

The Tour then filed a countersuit against LIV. In February, the court ruled the Tour could add the PIF and Al-Rumayyan as defendants in its countersuit, dragging the financiers deeper into the judicial weeds.

The upstart circuit has suffered a pair of major legal setbacks over the last month, first via a United Kingdom arbitration panel, and second via Judge Beth Labson Freeman. Judge Freeman ruled in the U.S. Northern District of California court that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund – as well as its governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan were both subject to discovery and depositions.

UPDATE: What’s next for LIV’s antitrust case against the PGA Tour?

On Thursday evening, a New York Times report also claimed the United States Department of Justice has subpoenaed the Trump Organization for records regarding former President Donald Trump’s ties to LIV Golf.

LIV will be back in action next week with LIV Golf Tulsa at Cedar Ridge Country Club in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, May 12-14. Uihlein is currently second in LIV Golf’s season-long points race thanks to a runner-up finish at LIV Golf Mayakoba in the season opener.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=451198867]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01f5k5vfbhv59szck1 image=]

LIV Golf takes yet another legal blow in United States court, must comply with documents and witnesses for depositions

Last month a judge ruled that depositions could be conducted in Riyadh, but the new ruling sets them in New York.

After suffering a major setback via a United Kingdom arbitration panel on Thursday, the legal hits kept coming for LIV Golf on Friday, this time with regard to its antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour.

Judge Beth Labson Freeman ruled in the U.S. Northern District of California court that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund – as well as its governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan are both subject to discovery and depositions, a major blow to LIV’s legal team.

Last month U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen ruled that PIF and Al-Rumayyan’s depositions could be conducted at a place of the Tour’s choosing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but Freeman’s order overrules the previous decision made by van Keulen. The first deposition subpoenas served to PIF and Al-Rumayyan established a location in New York City.

LIV’s lawyers have appealed the decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in order to delay the discovery process.

The original lawsuit was filed in August of 2022 by Phil Mickelson and went on to include 10 other players, but has since been taken over by LIV Golf, which is almost exclusively financed by the PIF (aside from its newly announced first global partner). The wealth fund, organized in 1971 as a means for the Saudi Arabian government to invest in various projects and companies, has been estimated to be worth over $650 billion.

The Tour then filed a countersuit against LIV. In February, the court ruled the Tour could add the PIF and Al-Rumayyan as defendants in its countersuit, dragging the financiers deeper into the judicial weeds.

So, what comes next? Antitrust cases involve not just investigating a company, but rather an entire industry. For that reason, the discovery process can be voluminous and exhausting, and the case – currently set for a Jan. 8, 2024 trial date – is just now entering the pre-trial discovery phase.

[pickup_prop id=”32051″]

PIF and Al-Rumayyan could comply and provide depositions and documents, though LIV lawyers have previously claimed that taking part in depositions would violate Saudi Arabian law. If they were to comply, the ramifications could have adverse effects on the PIF’s other investments in the states. Does Al-Rumayyan want to answer questions about the PIF’s motives given that LIV Golf has long been criticized as a way for Saudi Arabia to sportswash its human rights record? It’s unlikely.

They could also refuse to comply by not submitting documents or failing to meet deadlines, but that opens the door for the court to issue a ruling of contempt, which may lead to sanctions and fines that could totally upend LIV’s case.

The court hasn’t extended deadlines just yet, but previous comments in filings state that if the discovery process is delayed, the case may be, too.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01f5k5vfbhv59szck1 image=]

Michael Irvin hotel lobby video released; lawyer explains Arizona refiling

The HoFer and his legal team showed the video they say shows no evidence of the alleged sexual harassment in a Phoenix hotel lobby. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Michael Irvin’s legal team held a press conference Tuesday to clear up the status of the former Cowboy’s $100 million defamation lawsuit and show the highly-anticipated video that they believe proves the Hall of Famer did not sexually harass a woman in the lobby of a Phoenix hotel last month.

Attorney Levi McCathern pointed out to media members that while he did, in fact, file a dismissal of Irvin’s lawsuit within the state of Texas on Monday, the case was immediately re-filed in Arizona, where the alleged incident occurred on Feb. 5.

But the focus of the press conference, the second for Irvin and his lawyers in a one-week span, was to play the hotel’s surveillance footage that late last week was ordered released by a federal judge.

Irvin and his team believe the video makes it clear that- despite the woman’s claims of graphic language and aggressive, unwanted flirtation from Irvin- nothing inappropriate happened during the ex-wide receiver’s brief exchange with the female hotel employee.

“We used to say, when we played football,” Irvin explained, “‘the eye in the sky don’t tell no lie.’ It’s just the truth. We can talk and tell lies, but ‘the eye in the sky don’t tell no lies.'”

The video, which has no accompanying audio, shows an interaction that lasts less than two minutes total. In it, Irvin can be seen shaking the woman’s hand at the beginning and end of their conversation. While he does reach out and touch the woman’s arm twice, there is space between them for the entirety of their encounter.

The footage appears to show the woman going out of her way to deliberately “intercept” Irvin as he re-entered the lobby from taking a photo out front with fans; the hotel claimed that the three-time Super Bowl champ “flagged down” the woman.

 

McCathern went on to point out several instances of the woman’s body language that would not seem to be at all consistent with the expected actions of someone who was just offended by the sort of lewd proposition the woman claims Irvin made.

On Tuesday, the 57-year-old directly addressed the most disturbing allegation- one that was not only sexually explicit but also carried racial overtones.

“I don’t speak like that,” Irvin said. “I’ve never spoken like that. I’m not even… I totally deny saying that. I totally deny saying that.”

On tape, Irvin’s conversation with the woman ends in a visibly unremarkable fashion and the two part ways.

Video footage shows Irvin then being approached by a second hotel employee. During that conversation, Irvin can be seen playfully slapping his own face three times- something last week’s hotel filing did specify- before taking a selfie with the second employee.

More crucially, though, McCathern notes the presence of another hotel worker who is in close proximity to the female employee before and after her exchange with Irvin and appears to be demonstrably upset about something.

The attorney stated an interest in eventually obtaining other camera angles of the exchange as well as additional footage from the hotel’s video archives that would show the actions and movements of Irvin and the female employee prior to the released clip.

The refiled case names Marriott International as the parent company of the hotel, the separate company that technically operates the hotel, and four individuals, including the female employee. She is identified in court documents as “Jane Doe.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=video id=01gvgchh5k6czryrw0p8 playlist_id=01eqbwens7sctqdrqg player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gvgchh5k6czryrw0p8/01gvgchh5k6czryrw0p8-0f4e3acb348c4cefa1d4d19c3a15074c.jpg]

Michael Irvin refiles $100 million lawsuit against Marriott, accuser in Arizona

No reason was given; it was not immediately known whether the dismissal signals that a settlement between the two sides was reached. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Update: Irvin hasn’t dropped the lawsuit completely, but rather has refiled in the state of Arizona.

Former Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin has dropped his $100 million lawsuit against the Marriott hotel chain and the employee who accused him of misconduct in early February.

Irvin was removed from NFL Network’s week-long coverage of Super Bowl LVII after the worker reported an encounter that took place in the lobby of the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown hotel. Irvin says nothing inappropriate happened; the unnamed woman claimed that the Hall of Famer made unwelcome sexual advances during their brief interaction.

Irvin, 57, filed a defamation lawsuit against the chain and the woman over lost earnings and damages to his reputation.

According to court documents filed Monday, “Plaintiff Michael Irvin respectfully dismisses the action without prejudice.”

No reason was given for the dismissal, and it is not known if a settlement between the two sides was reached in the matter.

Just last week, a federal judge chastised Marriott for not turning over video footage of the encounter between Irvin and their employee. Irvin’s attorney had been allowed to view the footage, but only under strict guidelines set by the chain.

Irvin had compared the situation to a modern-day lynching.

A court filing on Friday finally gave the woman’s detailed account of the incident, which included a lewd proposition made by the former Cowboy.

Irvin’s attorney called the allegations “hogwash” and promised that the video, ordered by the judge to be released, would prove Irvin’s case.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=video id=01gvee6ps21rxy0rczqx playlist_id=01eqbwens7sctqdrqg player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gvee6ps21rxy0rczqx/01gvee6ps21rxy0rczqx-14e87f225be81a2bea63ab6d6487fb4c.jpg]

Court motion offers graphic details in Michael Irvin case, video to be made public

The Marriott employee’s story details aggressive flirting and a lewd proposition from the Hall of Fame WR; a judge ruled on the video. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Marriott has finally revealed details regarding the early February incident involving former Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin in Phoenix. A court motion now filed by the hotel chain gives a version of events that’s very different from the story told by Irvin and multiple witnesses.

Those details come as a federal judge says the company “blatantly” violated an order to provide Irvin with video recordings of the incident in question. In response to an emergency motion filed by Irvin’s legal team, the judge is allowing the video to be released publicly.

The Marriott motion, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, describes an encounter with a female employee that was initiated by a “visibly intoxicated” Irvin and quickly escalated into aggressive flirtation, unwanted physical contact, and a graphic proposition from the Hall of Famer.

Irvin filed a lawsuit against Marriott and the woman seeking $100 million in damages after he was sent home from his job covering Super Bowl LVII for NFL Network.

As per the new court filing, written by a Marriott attorney, Irvin “flagged down” the woman in the lobby’s bar area as she was working, asked about her job, told her that he found her attractive, and introduced himself. The woman explained that she was not an NFL fan and didn’t know who Irvin was; Irvin reportedly told her to look him up on the internet.

During this initial exchange, Irvin shook the woman’s hand and also touched her arm “without her consent, causing her to step back, becoming visibly uncomfortable.”

It’s then that Irvin allegedly made the most disturbing accusation contained in the motion document.

Irvin “asked the Victim whether she knew anything about having a ‘big Black man inside of [her],'” per the court motion. “Taken aback by Irvin’s comments, the Victim responded that his comments were inappropriate, and she did not wish to discuss it further.”

“Irvin then attempted to grab the Victim’s hand again and said he was ‘sorry if he brought up bad memories’ for her,” the motion continues. “The Victim pulled her hand away and tried to back away from Irvin as he continued to move towards her.”

Two hotel workers apparently approached in an attempt to intervene, at which point Irvin closed the encounter with another handshake, which the Marriott legal team says the woman returned, “wanting the interaction to end.”

The former Cowboys star allegedly “stated that he would come back to find [the woman] sometime that week when she was working.” He also allegedly “leered” at the woman as she walked away and made suggestive comments overheard by another hotel employee, saying “She bad,” and “I want to hit that.”

Irvin has denied that anything inappropriate took place and explained this week that he had not seen the hotel’s video or even been informed of the exact nature of the woman’s complaints. He has admitted, however, that he had been out drinking earlier in the evening and did not recall the exact nature of his brief conversation with the woman.

This week, though, Irvin compared the accusations to a modern-day lynching. Earlier in the week, two men whom the three-time Super Bowl champ had just met said that they witnessed the entire exchange and saw nothing about the conversation or the woman’s body language that caused any sort of concern at the time.

Irvin’s attorney fired back at the new detailed allegations Friday.

“Total hogwash,” Levi McCathern said in a statement to Dallas Morning News. “Marriott’s recently created account goes against all the eyewitnesses and Michael’s own testimony as well as common sense. We will release the video next week. There is no sexual assault. The fact Marriott is taking the position that it is is an insult to all of the true female victims out there.”

“I was shocked by Marriott’s prior handling of this situation,” McCathern went on. “I am now disgusted and appalled. I wish trial was tomorrow, so Michael could clear his name and get the compensation he deserves for Marriott’s reckless disregard for the truth.”

The woman reportedly shared her version of events with a coworker that same evening and then told her supervisor about the incident the next morning.

The hotel reported the incident to the NFL, following guidelines that had been established just the day prior regarding any league employees staying at the hotel. No criminal complaint was ever received by local police about the matter.

Prior to Friday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant, only McCathern had seen the hotel’s video footage, which blurred out the woman’s face. The judge was not pleased with the hotel chain deciding to place its own conditions on who could view the footage and how.

“It seems like Marriott just looked at my order and didn’t want to produce the video,” Mazzant said.

The judge has now ordered the video to be produced “without modification.”

Irvin’s lawyer says that video’s public release will be the key to exonerating the NFL legend.

“Everybody who views [the video] will see what I’ve seen and what the witnesses who were there have seen,” McCathern said. “Michael didn’t do anything wrong.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=video id=01gv3d49yyb8hgw5shk5 playlist_id=01eqbwens7sctqdrqg player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gv3d49yyb8hgw5shk5/01gv3d49yyb8hgw5shk5-5822e45c22e4d78ec52125bc503c79b7.jpg]