New Orleans Saints LB Jonathan Vilma will file injunction if suspension stands- NFL News
National Football League (NFL) commissioner, Roger Goodell, has still not delivered his judgement on the appeals filed by New Orleans Saints players including linebacker, Jonathan Vilma against their suspensions.
However, Vilma has already taken punitive measures in case Goodell’s decision goes against him.
According to WWLTV, Vilma filed a notice in federal court on Wednesday notifying the court hearing his defamation lawsuit against the commissioner that he plans to lodge an injunction challenging his suspension if Goodell does not rescind the decision.
U.S. District Judge Helen G. Berrigan will then have to decide whether Vilma should be allowed to play in the 2012 regular season.
The notice told the court beforehand that Vilma will file the injunction if a decision against his appeal is given by Goodell.
In the notice submitted to the court by Vilma’s representative it said:
“Mr. Vilma intends to seek injunctive relief in a separate action filed in this District which we believe would be considered a related case and assigned to your Honor …”
It reads further that:
“Since such an action would require immediate review, we are simply writing in advance to advise the Court and all known interested parties of our anticipated actions.”
This could be the Phase 2 that Vilma talked about in a tweet he made on Tuesday.
Goodell suspended Vilma for the entire 2012 season after the league found that the player was involved in a leadership capacity in the Saints bounty scandal.
Vilma was alleged to have placed $ 10,000 of his own money as bounty to any of his teammates who knocked out former Minnesota Vikings quarterback, Brett Favre, during the Saints 2009 National Football Conference (NFC) Championship clash.
The linebacker denies all allegations and claims that Goodell does not have the evidence to implicate him in the bounty scandal.
Vilma also filed the defamation lawsuit against the commissioner claiming that Goodell made statements in the media that tarnished his reputation.
During last week’s appeal hearings Vilma and his lawyer staged a walk out and did not return for the afternoon session claiming that the commissioner was conducting “a sham” hearing and no proof of his involvement in bounties was shown.
It is still uncertain when Goodell will make his decision.
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