Saturday, January 29, 2011

Michael Irvin settles civil suit


Last year, in the days preceding a Super Bowl to be played in his hometown of Miami, Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin found himself on the wrong side of a lawsuit alleging sexual battery.  Now, with the Super Bowl soon to be played in the city where he became a Hall of Famer, Irvin reportedly has settled the case.
According to the Daily Business Review (via ESPNDallas.com), the claim against Irvin and a $100 million countersuit for defamation have been settled.
“The parties finally came to their senses,” attorney David P. Lister said.  “The settlement was just reached last night.”
The woman sued Irvin on February 4, 2010, alleging that a sexual assault occurred in July 2007 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood.  The Broward State Attorney’s office declined to file criminal charges against Irvin.
Irvin’s lawyer had said that the claims are false, and that the lawsuit amounted to extortion.
Since the settlement is confidential, it’s unknown whether and to what extent Irvin paid the plaintiff to resolve the situation.  The fact that payment, if any, was made by Irvin doesn’t mean that he was guilty.  In many cases, it makes good business sense to pay to the plaintiff a portion of the money that otherwise would have been paid to the defendant’s lawyer.

source:  PFT.com
author:  Mike Florio

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