The Saints Bounty Scandal Could be Officially Over Within 30 Days (1 Viewer)

[Waymer]

Jonathan Vilma’s defamation lawsuit against Roger Goodell has been dismissed.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan granted Roger Goodell’s motion to dismiss which, of course, dismisses the case. The motion to dismiss had been filed in May as Goodell argued that the Collective Bargaining Agreement precluded Vilma from seeking individual liability against the NFL Commissioner. The Court agreed. ”The Court finds that all of the allegedly offensive statements were made by Goodell as Commissioner of the NFL in conjunction with the investigation resulting in the now well-known discipline against Vilma and others associated with the Saints,” Judge Berrigan wrote in her opinion.

Vilma’s lawyer, Peter Ginsburg, express his disappointment with the Court’s ruling. ”We are obviously disappointed, strongly believe that the CBA does not give anyone – including a commissioner – a license to misrepresent and to manufacture facts, especially at the expense of another person’s reputation – and are considering our options.” The biggest win for the league? As we wrote in May, the fact that Roger Goodell wasn’t deposed is a major victory.

So, what’s next? Well, Vilma can file an appeal of the Court’s ruling, which must be done within 30 days. Any appeal would be to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, who would review the appeal “de novo” — which essentially means they examine it as if it was the first time any court had looked at the case. However, his options are likely limited. Without any additional substantive allegations by Vilma, and the fact that a district court already reviewed the CBA, compared it to Vilma’s allegations, and deemed it unsuccessful to impose individual liability on the NFL Commissioner, things likely don’t bode well for Vilma.

Read the rest at Third Down Conversion.

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