Vilma v. National Football League

Filing 1

COMPLAINT against National Football League (Filing fee $ 350 receipt number 053L-3575026) filed by Jonathan Vilma. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons)(Ginsberg, Peter)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
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:
JONATHAN VILMA,
:
:
12-cv-1718
Plaintiff,
:
:
VERSUS
:
COMPLAINT
:
:
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE,
:
:
Defendant.
:
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Plaintiff Jonathan Vilma, by his attorneys, Peter R. Ginsberg Law, LLC and Williams
Law Group, LLC, for his Complaint against Defendant National Football League (“NFL”),
alleges as follows:
NATURE OF THE ACTION
1.

This action seeks an order of specific performance to compel NFL Commissioner

Roger Goodell to comply with the terms of the NFL-National Football League Players
Association Collective Bargaining Agreement (“NFL-NFLPA CBA”) and issue a decision
(“Arbitration Award”) on Vilma’s appeal of Goodell’s prior disciplinary decision in a manner
and according to the timeframe mandated by the NFL-NFLPA CBA.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
2.

This Court has subject matter jurisdiction of this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

1331, in that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate claims arising under the
Constitution, laws or treatises of the United States. Federal question jurisdiction exists in this
case based on the Labor Management Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 185 (“LMRA”).
3.

Venue is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391 and the LMRA.

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THE PARTIES
4.

Vilma is a linebacker for the New Orleans Saints (“Saints”), an eight-year veteran

of the NFL, and a citizen of the State of Florida. Vilma has been a member of the Saints since
2008 and a Captain of the defense for much of that time.
5.

The NFL is an unincorporated association of 32 Member Clubs, including the

Saints, headquartered in New York, New York.
BACKGROUND
The “Bounty Rule” Investigation
6.

Goodell and the NFL, at Goodell’s direction, have accused, and punished, Saints

executives, coaches and defensive players for conducting a bounty program during the 2009,
2010 and 2011 Seasons (“Bounty Program”) which allegedly involved taking aim at and
targeting specific opposing players and offering monetary incentives for injuring those players.
7.

Goodell, in press releases, public statements, and reports to NFL Clubs, as well as

in correspondence directed to Vilma, alleged – and announced his own personal conclusions –
that Saints coaches and defensive players maintained a Bounty Program whereby players
“targeted particular players” for injury, contributed cash into a pool and received “cash
payments” for injuring and assuring that previously-designated opposing players could not
continue to play in the game. Goodell also alleged that Vilma held up $10,000 in cash at a Team
meeting and offered it to any player who knocked Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre
out of the 2009 NFC Championship Game and offered a similar bounty to any Saints player who
injured Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner in a 2009 Divisional playoff game.
8.

Goodell and the NFL claim to have reviewed “approximately 18,000 documents

totaling more than 50,000 pages” and claim to have conducted extensive witness interviews.

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Vilma’s First Offer to Meet With Goodell
9.

On March 14, 2012, Vilma’s counsel offered to meet with Goodell about the

accusations against Vilma if Goodell was considering disciplining Vilma.
10.

Vilma’s counsel confirmed the offer in a letter dated March 21, 2012.

Vilma’s Second Request to Meet with Goodell and First Request for Evidence
11.

By email dated March 30, 2012, the NFL requested to interview Vilma

concerning the alleged Bounty Program.
12.

In response, Vilma, by letter dated April 2, 2012, agreed to a meeting with the

NFL once the NFL provided him with the materials gathered by the NFL “which the NFL
contend[ed] provided a basis to investigate Vilma” so that Vilma could prepare for and
understand the scope of the interview. In the same letter, Vilma offered to provide the NFL with
complete “detail[] [of] Vilma’s knowledge regarding [the Bounty Program] allegations.”
13.

By letter dated April 5, 2012, the NFL refused to provide Vilma with any

information or other supposed evidence, claiming “[w]e see no basis upon which it would be
appropriate to make any of the material available, and we decline to do so.”
14.

The NFL also refused to meet with Vilma’s counsel.

Goodell Imposes Discipline on the Saints
15.

On March 21, 2012, Goodell imposed punishment on the Saints Organization and

Saints personnel. Goodell:
a. fined the Saints $500,000, and required the Saints to forfeit second
round draft picks in the 2012 and 2013 NFL Drafts;
b. suspended Saints Head Coach Sean Payton without pay for the 2012
NFL season and conditioned reinstatement into the NFL on Goodell’s

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personal approval;
c. suspended Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis without pay for the
first eight regular season games of the 2012 season;
d. suspended former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams
indefinitely from the NFL and conditioned reinstatement on Goodell’s
personal approval; and
e. suspended Saints Assistant Head Coach Joe Vitt without pay for the first
six regular season games of the 2012 season.
16.

Goodell prohibited Loomis, Payton and Vitt from having any contact with the

Saints or any person associated with the NFL during their suspensions.
17.

Upon information and belief, Goodell also issued a “gag order” on Williams,

prohibiting him from speaking with anyone about the Bounty Program investigation.
18.

Goodell reinforced this effort to deny all but Goodell-approved people with

access to information by suspending Payton and Williams from the NFL, pending reinstatement
by Goodell, yet another determination that Goodell claims is within his sole discretion and not
subject to review or appeal. By conditioning reinstatement into the NFL on his own personal
approval, Goodell effectively prohibited Williams and Payton from communicating with anyone
but Goodell-approved people regarding the alleged Bounty Program and the manner and means
by which the NFL conducted its investigation.
19.

Despite his contention that he is properly the sole arbitrator of player discipline in

this instance, and notwithstanding that he had yet to entertain any evidence from the Saints
players or conduct a hearing for the players regarding the supposed Bounty Program, Goodell,
in a March 21 Press Release, issued his personal conclusions and described possible discipline

4

of Saints players:
… I am profoundly troubled by the fact that players – including
leaders among the defensive players – embraced this program so
enthusiastically and participated with what appears to have been a
deliberate lack of concern for the well-being of their fellow
players…. While all club personnel are expected to play to win,
they must not let the quest for victory so cloud their judgment that
they willingly and willfully target their opponents and engage in
unsafe and prohibited conduct intended to injure players.
20.

Goodell, in his March 21 Press Release, repeated the allegations (and his own

conclusions), which he had previously made public despite his claimed position as a supposedly
neutral and fair arbitrator of such matters, that “several players pledged funds toward bounties on
specific opposing players” and that “defensive captain Jonathan Vilma offer[ed] $10,000 to any
player who knocked Brett Favre out of the NFC Championship Game in 2010.”
21.

Also on March 21, 2012, Goodell sent a Memorandum of Decision to all 32

Member Clubs attempting to justify the punishment he imposed on Saints personnel and, again,
showing that he had prejudged the role of the Saints players in the supposed Bounty Program,
alleged:
a. “several players pledged funds toward bounties on specific opposing
players”;
b. “defensive captain Jonathan Vilma offered $10,000 to any player who
knocked Brett Favre out of the NFC Championship Game in 2010”; and
c. players “willingly and willfully engage[d] in conduct on the field intended
to injure fellow players.”
Goodell Imposes Discipline on Saints Players
22.

On May 2, 2012, Goodell punished four Saints and former Saints players:
a. suspended linebacker Scott Fujita without pay for the first three games of
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the 2012 regular season;
b. suspended defensive end Will Smith without pay for the first four games
of the 2012 regular season;
c. suspended defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove without pay for the first
eight games of the 2012 regular season; and
d. suspended Vilma without pay for the entire 2012 regular season.
23.

Goodell, in a May 2 Press Release, repeated and expanded on his previous public

statements and conclusions concerning Vilma and the Saints defensive team generally. Goodell
claimed that:
a. Vilma “assisted Coach Williams in establishing and founding the [Bounty]
program,” and “offered a specific bounty - $10,000 in cash – to any player
who knocked Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner out of the 2009 Divisional
Playoff Game and later pledged the same amount to anyone who knocked
Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre out of the 2009 NFC Championship
Game”;
b. “Saints players of their own accord pledged significant amounts of their
own money toward bounties… accepted payments for ‘cart-offs’ and
‘knockouts’ of injured opposing players, and that the payout amounts
doubled and tripled for playoff games”;
c. Vilma “contributed a particularly large sum of money toward the [Bounty]
program; specifically contributed to a bounty on an opposing player;
demonstrated a clear intent to participate in a program that potentially
injured opposing players; [and] sought rewards for doing so”; and

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d. Vilma and the other suspended players “willingly and enthusiastically
embraced the bounty program… [and] put the vast majority of the money
into this program.”
24.

Claiming that he was acting pursuant to Article 46, § 1(a) of the NFL-NFLPA

CBA, Goodell advised Vilma of the suspension in a letter dated May 2, 2012 (“May 2 Notice”).
25.

Goodell claimed in the May 2 Notice that Vilma’s participation in the alleged

Bounty Program “constitute[d] conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in
the game of professional football.”
Vilma’s Second Request for Evidence and Appeal
26.

Vilma, pursuant to the NFL-NFLPA CBA, appealed Goodell’s suspension by

letter dated May 7, 2012.
27.

Having been denied all evidence prior to imposition of the suspension and

rebuffed in his efforts to meet with Goodell for a full and fair exchange of information, Vilma
made yet another effort to understand the basis of the allegations against him. By separate letter
also dated May 7, 2012, Vilma once again requested “all evidence gathered during the course of
the NFL’s investigation that supports, corroborates or relates in any way to the many allegations
[Goodell] and the NFL ha[d] disseminated in the media regarding [] Vilma’s alleged
participation in a purported [B]ounty [P]rogram.” Vilma’s May 7, 2012 letter requested 17
specific categories of documents or information.
28.

The NFL again refused to provide Vilma with any documents, information or

other supposed evidence by letter dated May 23, 2012. The NFL also informed Vilma that the
hearing on his appeal would take place on June 18, 2012 (“Appeal Hearing”).
29.

In an email dated June 8, 2012, the NFL confirmed that the Appeal Hearing

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would commence at 10:00 a.m. on June 18, 2012.
Vilma’s Request for Fairness, Including Access to Witnesses
30.

By letter to Goodell dated June 15, 2012, Vilma set forth the fundamental flaws in

the process invoked to suspend him, concluding that the NFL had “depriv[ed] [him] of a
fundamentally fair arbitration hearing.” Included was that the NFL had:
a. failed to provide “any evidence related to this matter...”;
b. refused him access to witnesses; and
c. failed to provide an impartial arbitrator who had jurisdiction to proceed
with adjudicating the fairness and basis of the threatened punishment.
31.

Vilma’s June 15, 2012 letter also requested the NFL to produce all of the

evidence gathered during its investigation and to make available for examination at the Appeal
Hearing:
f. Goodell;
g. Payton;
h. Williams;
i. Vitt;
j. Loomis;
k. Blake Williams, Williams’ son and a former Saints defensive coach;
l. Michael Cerullo, a former Saints defensive coach;
m. Joe Hummel, NFL Security officer; and
n. Jeff Miller, NFL Security officer.
32.

Vilma’s June 15, 2012 letter was sent to Goodell via email at 9:02 a.m.

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The NFL’s Untimely and Insufficient Production of Documents
33.

Article 46, § 2(f)(ii) of the CBA provides, as a mandatory procedural requirement

for hearings conducted to determine whether actions constitute conduct detrimental to football,
as follows:
Discovery. In appeals under Section 1(a), the parties shall
exchange copies of any exhibits upon which they intend to rely no
later than three (3) calendar days prior to the hearing. Failure to
timely provide any intended exhibit shall preclude its
introduction at the hearing. (Emphasis added.)
34.

New York law, which governs the NFL-NFLPA CBA, requires that each

“calendar day” must be a “24-hour period.” See Messina v. Lufthansa German Airlines, 47
N.Y.2d 111, 116 (N.Y. 1979).
35.

The NFL was thus required to produce the exhibits to be used to support any

suspension by 10 a.m. on June 15, 2012, three calendar days, or 72 hours, prior to the Appeal
Hearing.
36.

The NFL failed to produce a single document as required by the CBA.

37.

Finally, on June 15, 2012, at 1:33 p.m., the NFL produced 182 pages of

documents, organized into 16 exhibits (“NFL Exhibits”), of the approximately 50,000 pages of
documents that the NFL claimed to have gathered and reviewed during its Bounty Program
investigation, and a DVD showing part of a single game.
38.

The NFL did not produce a single note taken during any witness interviews or

identify the source of any of the documents produced.
39.

The NFL also failed to produce original or unredacted copies of documents but,

instead, retyped and otherwise altered documents that it obtained during the investigation and
that it supposedly intended to use to satisfy its burden of proof at the Appeal Hearing.

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40.

The NFL contended that it was not obligated to produce the evidence it gathered

during the investigation, that it was not obligated to produce any exculpatory evidence, and that
it was not obligated to produce original or unredacted documents or documents that identify their
source or even when they were created.
41.

The NFL failed and refused to produce over 99 per cent of the pages of

documents it supposedly gathered.
42.

Approximately 20 per cent of the pages the NFL produced were created after

Goodell announced Vilma’s suspension, including a May 31, 2012 weblog post of Sean
Pamphilon, a filmmaker who spent parts of the 2011 season with the Saints, and a June 6, 2012
article in the New Orleans Times-Picayune concerning the Bounty Program investigation.
43.

Thus, the NFL only produced approximately 0.3 per cent of the documents it

allegedly reviewed and on which it based its disciplinary decisions.
44.

No notes of interviews were produced and three of the NFL Exhibits (1, 7 and 10)

were transcribed handwritten notes that did not disclose the source of the supposed information
or the date on which the documents were created.
The Truth
45.

Vilma, as a Captain of the Saints defense, was instrumental in leading the Saints

to their first-ever Super Bowl championship in the 2009 season and is or was, at least until
Goodell’s accusations and allegations were public aired, highly regarded as a player and
individual throughout the United States and in the State of Louisiana as well as in the
professional football community.
46.

Vilma never established, or assisted in establishing, a Bounty Program or any

similar program.

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47.

Vilma never “embraced” a Bounty Program or any similar program.

48.

Vilma never “targeted” an opposing player for injury.

49.

Vilma never engaged “in unsafe and prohibited conduct intended to injure

players.”
50.

Vilma never “participate[d] in a program that potentially injured opposing

players.”
51.

Vilma never paid, or intended to pay, $10,000, or any amount of money, as an

incentive to any player to knock Warner, Favre, or any other player, out of the 2009 Divisional
Playoff Game, 2010 NFC Championship Game, or any other game.
52.

Vilma never placed $10,000, or any amount of money, on any table or anywhere

else as part of a Bounty Program or any other program or for any other reason.
The NFL’s Gross Mischaracterization of Evidence
53.

Various documents and information upon which the NFL apparently relied in

imposing the suspension have become public or otherwise known.

The NFL’s gross

mischaracterization of these documents and information demonstrates the speciousness of the
NFL’s claims and suspensions.
54.

Documents the NFL produced, albeit in an untimely fashion, further evidence that

the NFL has mischaracterized or is uninformed about the true nature of those documents.
55.

The NFL’s alteration of other documents evidences that the NFL cannot

substantiate the suspension, and undermines the integrity of the process, as well as the integrity
of the NFL and the Commissioner’s Office.
The Hargrove Declaration
56.

Notwithstanding his claimed role as a fair and neutral arbitrator, in a May 2 Press

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Release, Goodell claimed that “[Anthony] Hargrove submitted a signed declaration to the league
that established not only the existence of the [Bounty] program at the Saints, but also that he
knew about and participated in it.”
57.

Goodell’s characterization of the Hargrove Declaration is grossly inaccurate.

58.

The Hargrove Declaration does not admit or establish in any way the existence of

an alleged Bounty Program. In fact, the Hargrove Declaration details Hargrove’s explicit denials
of an alleged Bounty Program.
59.

Hargrove attests to the fact that, during meetings and communications with NFL

investigators and officials in March 2010, he “repeatedly denied knowledge of any bounty or
bounty program.”
60.

Because Hargrove swore to facts about which Goodell did not agree, Goodell

publicly mischaracterized those facts and punished Hargrove.
61.

Contrary to Goodell’s public representations, the Hargrove Declaration cannot

possibly “establish” that Hargrove “knew” and “participated” in an alleged Bounty Program.
Hargrove Video
62.

The NFL produced, albeit in an untimely manner, “evidence” for the Appeal

Hearing which depicted a portion of the Saints’ 2009 NFC Championship game against the
Minneapolis Vikings.
63.

The video shows Vitt informing the Defensive players that Favre had been injured

and was being replaced by a new quarterback.
64.

The NFL contended that Hargrove then could be heard saying, “Bobby, give me

my money.” The NFL highlighted that video as one of its strongest pieces of evidence that a
Bounty Program existed.

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65.

The person heard on the video unequivocally is not Hargrove, nor is it any other

player whom the NFL has accused of participating in a Bounty Program. Moreover, there is no
one named “Bobby” whom the NFL has identified as being part of a Bounty Program.
Additionally, the comment had absolutely nothing to do with a Bounty Program nor does it
provide any evidence of a Bounty Program.
66.

Upon information and belief, the NFL never even attempted to interview the

participants in the videotaped conversation.
The Ornstein Email
67.

In a March 21 Press Release, Goodell, notwithstanding his supposed role as a fair

and neutral arbitrator, identified an email message from Michael Ornstein as a crucial piece of
evidence establishing the existence of a Bounty Program. Goodell claimed that “prior to the
Saints’ opening game in 2011, Coach Payton received an email from a close associate [Ornstein]
that stated in part ‘PS Greg Williams put me down for $5000 on Rogers (sic).’”
68.

Ornstein, who was never a Saints employee, told the NFL that the email was part

of a “running joke,” that he never provided any money for a bounty, that, as far as he knows,
there was never a Bounty Program, and that he has no knowledge about anyone with the Saints
ever funding a bounty of any kind on any opposing player.
69.

Upon information and belief, no one – except Goodell – has ever challenged or

investigated Ornstein’s explanation of the message.
70.

Also noteworthy, the NFL did not include the Ornstein email among its

“evidence” produced, albeit in an untimely manner, for the Appeal Hearing.
71.

Moreover, in his description of the email, Goodell inaccurately claimed that

Ornstein sent the email to Payton. In fact, Ornstein did not send the email to Payton.

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A Second Ornstein Email
72.

The NFL produced for the Appeal Hearing, albeit in an untimely manner, a 2009

email from Ornstein to Williams. The email, which communicated a promise from Ornstein to
send money to Williams, was included among the “evidence” produced by the NFL of a Bounty
Program.
73.

Ornstein communicated directly to Goodell that the email, in fact, concerned

Ornstein’s contributions to a charitable organization run by Williams, that he had contributed
NFL merchandise rather than money to the organization for years, that he no longer had access
to NFL merchandise, and he instead was contributing money for the Williams charitable
organization.
74.

Ornstein further requested Goodell to corroborate his explanation of the email by

obtaining financial documents of Williams’ charitable organization that reflected donations.
75.

Upon information and belief, the NFL never sought to obtain financial documents

relating to Williams’ charitable organization.
76.

The NFL, despite producing the Ornstein email, albeit in an untimely fashion, did

not produce evidence relating to Ornstein’s explanation, any information regarding Williams’
charitable organization, or produce Williams or Ornstein at the Appeal Hearing for examination.
NFL Claims About Bounty Program “Evidence”
77.

NFL officials have claimed that Ornstein provided evidence that Vilma offered a

$10,000 bounty for the injury of Favre.
78.

Ornstein was at the pre-game meeting before the 2009 NFC Championship game

where the NFL alleges that Vilma’s offer was made.
79.

Ornstein recently stated as follows: “I never corroborated $10,000 … The only

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thing that I told them was that we had the [pregame] meeting, we jumped around, we screamed
around, and I never saw [Vilma offer] one dime. And I never heard him say it. Did I say to the
league that I saw Jonathan Vilma offer $10,000? Absolutely not.”
80.

Ornstein also has publicly said that he never saw, heard or has any evidence that

Vilma offered $10,000 for an injury to Warner or any amount of money as an incentive to injure
any other player.
81.

The NFL failed to produce Ornstein to testify at the Appeal Hearing.

82.

The NFL provided no notes of interviews with Ornstein.

83.

The NFL also has identified Vitt as a source of information that a Bounty

Program existed, and that Vilma participated in a program designed to award players for injuring
opposing players, and that Vitt contributed to the Bounty Program.
84.

Vitt recently stated publicly as follows: “…It cannot be emphasized enough, none

of our players, particularly those who are facing suspensions, ever crossed the white line with the
intent to injure an opponent.” Vitt equally forcefully denied that Vilma ever offered $10,000 for
an injury to Favre or Warner, or any amount of money for an injury to any player.
85.

Regarding the NFL’s contention that Vitt put money into a Bounty Program, Vitt

recently stated: “I did not pledge any money for any incentive, pay for performance, bounty or
any other alleged program in connection with any game, including the 2010 Championship.”
86.

The NFL subsequently retracted its allegation that Vitt put any money into a

Bounty Program.
87.

The NFL failed to produce Vitt to testify at the Appeal Hearing.

88.

The NFL provided no notes of interviews with Vitt.

89.

The NFL also identified Williams as providing evidence about a Bounty Program

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and about Vilma’s participation in a Bounty Program.
90.

A close friend and associate of Williams’, who has met and spoken extensively

with Williams, and who was present for at least one communication Williams had with Goodell,
claims as follows: Williams never acknowledged that there existed a Bounty Program, Williams
has no information that there existed a Bounty Program, Williams has no information or
evidence that Vilma ever offered $10,000 for an injury to Favre or Warner, or any amount of
money for an injury to any player.
91.

The same close friend and associate has confirmed that Goodell told Williams that

reinstatement depends on Williams’ cooperation with Goodell and that Goodell has put a gag
order on Williams prohibiting his direct communication with any of the Saints players or
officials who have been punished.
92.

The NFL failed to produce Williams to testify at the Appeal Hearing.

93.

The NFL provided no notes of interviews with Williams.

The Ledger
94.

Upon information and belief, on or about June 1, 2012, Goodell, despite his

supposed role as a fair and neutral arbitrator, or an NFL employee or employees, acting on
Goodell’s behalf, provided a copy of a supposed Ledger to Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports as
supposed evidence of the existence of the Bounty Program. The Ledger purportedly included
two specific entries for the 2009 season:
a. $1,000 awarded for a “cart-off” during a game against the New York
Giants on October 18, 2009; and
b. Three $1,000 payments awarded for “cart-offs” during a game against
the Buffalo Bills on September 27, 2009.

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95.

There are serious flaws in both of the alleged Ledger entries.

96.

First, Goodell’s allegation against Vilma and the other Saints, and the basis of his

claim that there is a Bounty Program, is premised upon a charge that Saints players pledged
money in advance of games as an award for injuring pre-designated opposing players.
97.

The supposed Ledger does not in any way evidence that opposing players were

targeted for injury or that any money was pledged to award an injury to any opposing player.
98.

Second, Giants offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie suffered a groin injury during

the October 18, 2009 game. McKenzie, as game film evidences, suffered the injury attempting
to recover a fumble in a scrum of players. There is no realistic way in which any Saints
defensive player could have intentionally caused McKenzie’s groin injury in hopes of earning an
alleged Bounty.
99.

Third, after it was publicized, in reaction to the NFL’s leak, that no Bills offensive

players could have conceivably been the victim of any bounty during the September 27, 2009
game, the NFL revised its leak to Cole and claimed that the Ledger in fact related to a November
8, 2009 game against the Carolina Panthers.
100.

The NFL’s revised allegation about the Ledger evidenced was equally specious.

101.

The only Panthers player injured in the November 8, 2009 game was defensive

player Thomas Davis. Davis suffered a knee injury after backpedaling and falling untouched by
any other player.
102.

Moreover, Goodell’s accusation is that the Saints Defensive squad engaged in a

Bounty Program. Davis was hurt playing against the Saints Offensive squad.
103.

Thus, the Ledger could not conceivably evidence that any Saints player could

have been involved in intentionally injuring a Panthers player during the November 8, 2009

17

game or that the Ledger provided evidence of the existence of the Bounty Program.
104.

Despite having made the Ledger available to a member of the media, the NFL did

not produce the Ledger, even in an untimely fashion, as part of the Appeal Hearing.
Cerullo Statements
105.

Cerullo was an assistant coach with the Saints from 2007 through the 2010

season. The Saints terminated Cerullo following various incidents, including disappearing from
the Club during the 2009 Season and providing a pretextual excuse that was shown to be
inaccurate and, again, disappearing from the Club during the week leading up to the Super Bowl
in 2010, again giving a pretextual excuse that was shown to be inaccurate. Following the Saints’
Super Bowl victory, Cerullo was given a cubic zirconia Super Bowl facsimile ring rather than a
genuine Super Bowl ring, for which Cerullo has strenuously and vehemently expressed his
resentment.
106.

Cerullo pledged revenge against the Saints, and particularly against Vitt,

following his termination.
107.

Upon information and belief, Goodell and the NFL relied principally upon

Cerullo’s statements during its investigation into the alleged Bounty Program.
108.

Upon information and belief, the NFL interviewed Cerullo multiple times and

based its disciplinary decisions largely on Cerullo’s statements.
109.

According to a close associate of Cerullo’s, who discussed the Bounty Program

investigation with Cerullo on multiple occasions, Cerullo retracted his previous claims about the
Bounty Program, including in a communication directly with Goodell that occurred in April
2012.
110.

Goodell and the NFL have never disclosed notes of any of their interviews with

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Cerullo.
111.

Goodell and the NFL have never disclosed any evidence relating to Cerullo’s

retractions of the allegations about the Bounty Program.
112.

The NFL failed to produce Cerullo as a witness at the Appeal Hearing.

Saints Defensive Players
113.

Each of the other Saints and former Saints players whom Goodell has punished

has vehemently and unequivocally denied the existence of a Bounty Program.
114.

Each of the other Saints and former Saints players whom Goodell has punished

has vehemently and unequivocally denied that any player offered a monetary incentive to injure
an opposing player.
115.

There is not a single Saints player or former Saints player who witnessed Vilma

offer $10,000 for an injury to Favre or Warner, or any amount of money for an injury to any
player.
Exhibit Number 10
116.

The NFL produced, albeit in an untimely fashion, a one-page exhibit that it

claimed offered irrefutable proof of a Bounty Program and Vilma’s participation in the Bounty
Program.
117.

The one-page document is inherently suspect.

118.

First, it is a typed document supposedly “transcribed from handwritten notes.”

The NFL did not produce the original document, did not identify the person who supposedly
created the document, did not identify the person who transcribed the document, the document is
not dated, the NFL did not identify the date of the creation of the original document, if such a
document exists, or of the typed document.

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119.

Exhibit 10 is entitled “Minny Game,” has the caption “$ $ QB [illegible] Out,”

and bears the names of several people with words such as “$10,000 QB.”
120.

One of those captions is “Vitt -- $5,000 … QB out pool.” Following Vitt’s denial

that he ever contributed $5,000 or any amount of money to a Bounty Program and denied the
existence of a Bounty Program, the NFL finally admitted that Vitt did not put any money into or
participate in a Bounty Program.
121.

One of the notations on the list is “QB Grant -- $10,000.” Charles Grant was on

injured reserve for the game in question. Upon information and belief, Grant did not attend the
pre-game meeting before the 2009 NFC Championship game, to which Exhibit 10 supposedly
relates.
122.

One of the notations on the list is “QB Pool Ornstein -- $10,000.” Ornstein has

publicly and vehemently denied that he ever contributed $10,000 or any amount of money to a
Bounty Program and has denied the existence of a Bounty Program.
123.

The others identified on Exhibit 10 also have denied ever contributing any amount

of money to a Bounty Program and denied the existence of a Bounty Program, including Roman
Harper, Darren Sharper, Fujita, Smith, and Vilma. No one identified on Exhibit 10 has said that
a Bounty Program ever existed.
124.

Upon information and belief, Cerullo created Exhibit 10 well after the 2009 NFC

Championship Game and in an effort to gain revenge against the Saints for terminating his
employment.
Objective Facts
131. The four players whom Goodell alleges were the leaders and participants of the
Bounty Program combined received a total of nine penalties resulting in fines during the three

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years in which Goodell claims the Bounty Program existed. Vilma only received two fines
during those three years, one for roughing the passer in 2009 and once for grabbing a facemask
in 2010.
Vilma’s Appeal Hearing
132.

The Appeal Hearing was held on June 18, 2012, at the NFL’s offices.

133.

Goodell made clear from the start of the Appeal Hearing that he would serve as

the “hearing officer” despite his many public statements in which he provided his own
conclusions well in advance of hearing the players’ information, despite his many public
statements attempting to justify and rationalize the punishments in the weeks prior to the Appeal
Hearing and despite the fact that he had been identified as a witness for the hearing.
134.

As further indication that Goodell could not and would not be a fair and neutral

arbitrator, the Appeal Hearing from the very beginning was controlled by NFL General Counsel
Jeff Pash notwithstanding the fact that the NFL was the party adverse to Vilma and the other
players.
135.

Pash, on Goodell’s behalf, made clear that none of the witnesses requested by

Vilma and the other players who had first-hand knowledge of the facts underlying the allegations
would be made available at the Appeal Hearing.
136.

At the outset of the Appeal Hearing, pursuant to Article 46, § 2(f)(ii) of the NFL-

NFLPA CBA, Vilma moved to preclude the NFL from offering any NFL Exhibits based on the
NFL’s failure to abide by its legal obligation to produce the NFL Exhibits according to the CBAmandated time schedule.
137.

Despite the fact that Goodell was supposedly serving as a neutral arbitrator,

Goodell conferred with Pash, the NFL’s in-house counsel, the NFL’s outside counsel, and

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members of NFL security, and then denied Vilma’s motion to preclude the NFL Exhibits.
138.

Based on multiple factors, including the fact that the NFL could not sustain its

burden to justify the suspension because it had no documents or evidence it could legally offer at
the Appeal Hearing, because it had failed to produce any witnesses with first-hand knowledge of
any of the relevant facts, because it had failed to produce the witnesses requested by Vilma,
because Goodell by his words and actions prior to the Appeal Hearing had demonstrated that he
could not act as a fair and neutral arbitrator, because the NFL had failed to produce well over 99
per cent of the relevant information it had gathered, because the NFL had failed to produce any
exculpatory evidence, because the NFL had provided only altered documents and, even for the
altered documents, refused to identify the source of the documents or the dates of their creation,
and because even under the CBA Goodell lacked jurisdiction to entertain the Appeal Hearing,
Vilma moved Goodell to rescind the suspension and dismiss the proceedings.
139.

Goodell refused to rescind the suspension and dismiss the proceedings.

140.

Goodell offered to delay the Appeal hearing for approximately four hours in an

effort to remedy the NFL’s jurisdictional defect of not producing any documents or evidence in a
timely fashion and otherwise refused to address any of the many other defects in the Appeal
Hearing and in the process.
141.

In light of Goodell being unable to act as a fair and neutral arbitrator, the NFL’s

failure to timely produce evidence, failure to produce the requested evidence, failure to produce
unaltered evidence, failure to produce witnesses, and other procedural and jurisdictional
infirmities, Vilma was prevented from being able to substantively participate in the Appeal
Hearing.
142.

The record of Vilma’s hearing was closed without the introduction of any

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evidence, testimony of any witnesses, or supplementing the record other than with Vilma’s
Motion to Preclude and an oral statement from Vilma’s representative.
Goodell’s Failure to Rule
143.

The NFL-NFLPA CBA requires the NFL Commissioner to issue a decision “[a]s

soon as practicable following the conclusion of the [Appeal] [H]earing.”
144.

The Appeal Hearing record closed on Monday, June 18, 2012, at approximately

11:00 a.m.
145.

Goodell has not issued his decision despite the fact that, upon information and

belief, he has not reconsidered any of the supposed evidence upon which his original discipline
was purportedly based.
146.

In light of Goodell’s having already prejudged and predetermined Vilma’s appeal,

the earliest practicable time for Goodell to have issued the appeal was by the close of business on
Monday, June 25, 2012, and certainly well in advance of the filing of the instant pleading.
CLAIMS FOR RELIEF
COUNT I
(Breach of the NFL-NFLPA CBA - Specific Performance)
147.

Vilma repeats and realleges the allegations set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 146

as if fully set forth herein.
148.

The LMRA provides for suits for violations of a collective bargaining agreement.

149.

The NFL-NFLPA CBA is a valid, binding and enforceable collective bargaining

agreement.
150.

Vilma has performed all of his obligations under the NFL-NFLPA CBA.

151.

The NFL-NFLPA CBA required Goodell to issue a decision “[a]s soon as

practicable following the conclusion of the [Appeal] [H]earing.”
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152.

The record that has been before Goodell for months during his supposed

investigation did not change nor was it supplemented or expanded at the Appeal Hearing as a
result of the NFL failing to produce any evidence to Vilma in a timely fashion, no evidence or
witnesses were presented at the Appeal Hearing before the record for the Vilma hearing was
closed, and no additional facts or information was entered into the record before the record for
the Vilma hearing was closed.
153.

There is no reason why Goodell could not yet have issued a decision in this

matter, as mandated by the NFL-NFLPA CBA.
154.

The NFL and Goodell have breached the NFL-NFLPA CBA by failing to issue a

decision within the time required by the NFL-NFLPA CBA.
155.

It is within Goodell’s power to render a decision on Vilma’s appeal.

156.

Vilma has no adequate remedy at law for the NFL and Goodell’s breach of the

NFL-NFLPA CBA.
157.

As a result of Goodell’s breach of the CBA, Vilma has been injured in several

material ways.
158.

Vilma has been an integral member of the Saints defensive team and one of its

leaders. In order for Vilma to maintain his position of leadership, he must be able to participate
in Team meetings, practices and training. The lack of certainty about Vilma’s future, and
delaying Vilma’s ability and right to seek judicial review of the various infirmaties in the process
invoked by the NFL and Goodell, threatens Vilma’s professional standing.
159.

Vilma is currently rehabilitating a serious knee injury sustained during the 2011

season. Goodell’s failure to rule complicates Vilma’s rehabilitation and training.
160.

Vilma’s personal and professional life has come to a standstill while he focuses

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his attention on rectifying the wrongs that have done to him by the NFL and Goodell.
161.

Vilma has a right to receive a decision according to the mandate of the NFL-

NFLPA CBA.
162. By delaying a decision in this matter, Goodell has failed to abide by his
obligations set forth in the NFL-NFLPA CBA.
163. An Order of specific performance is necessary to compel Goodell to issue the
Arbitration Award “as soon as practicable.”
COUNT II
(Conditional Request for Injunctive Relief)
164.

Vilma repeats and realleges the allegations set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 163

as if fully set forth herein.
165.

In the event that the NFL affirms Vilma's suspension, then Vilma requests

immediate injunctive relief vacating said suspension and allowing him to fully participate in all
team activities as an active member of the New Orleans Saints for all of the reasons previously
given and set forth hereinbelow.
166.

Vilma will suffer real, immediate and irreparable injury in the absence of the

injunctive relief sought. The NFL’s suspension of Vilma will begin immediately upon Goodell’s
issuance of the Arbitration Award.
167.

Under the terms of the suspension, Vilma is prevented from participating in any

activities with the Saints, including going to the training facility for rehabilitation and
conditioning.
168.

Vilma suffered a serious injury during the 2011 Season and must continue his

rehabilitation in order to be sure to continue working in his chosen profession. Saints trainers,
doctors and coaches are vital to that process.
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169.

The Saints’ season will begin in earnest in late July with the opening of training

camp. Training camp consists of lengthy practices, weight training sessions, team meetings,
scrimmages, studying film, playbooks and more, on an almost daily basis.

Training camp is

crucial preparation for the Saints’ season, which begins on September 9, 2012. Being deprived
of the fitness program at training camp could expose Vilma to serious injury once he returns to
football.
170.

The NFL’s decision to bar Vilma from participating in the 2012 season, attending

team and individual meetings, training at the Saints’ practice facility, spending any time at the
Saints’ practice facility, attending Saints’ games, communicating with teammates and members
of the coaching and fitness staff, attending team functions, and collecting his salary will cause
Vilma not only to lose his annual salary but also to miss one of the most competitive seasons of
his short professional career.
171.

There is no opportunity to “make up” this lost time. Vilma will simply never

have the ability to participate in these lost games and practices again.
172.

The future losses Vilma will suffer cannot be appropriately calculated for

purposes of a preliminary injunction because of the snowball effect the NFL’s suspension will
have on Vilma’s reputation, earning potential, standing in the NFL, and potentially devastating
consequences to his ability ever to play football again.
173.

A preliminary injunction also would serve the public interest and public policy.

Vilma remains an important member of the Saints and is seeking to regain his reputation as a
contributing member of the society and fabric of New Orleans. His absence from the Saints
could compromise the Team’s success during the upcoming Season and potentially deprive the
Organization of an opportunity to reach its potential by going back to the Super Bowl, hosted in

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New Orleans, and to reclaim its position as Champions.

Such success would have both

emotional and financial importance to the City of New Orleans and surrounding areas.
174.

Vilma has demonstrated a reasonable probability of success on the merits based

on the allegations set forth herein.
175.

The balance of equities tips in favor of Vilma rather than the NFL.

176.

Vilma has suffered and will continue to suffer from the NFL’s proposed

suspension. Vilma’s reputation is forever tainted and his career will be irreparably injured.
177.

The relief sought herein would cause minimal hardship to the NFL because the

NFL receives no benefit from the suspension. Even if the NFL were to prevail on the merits, it
could then move forward and institute the suspension upon resolution of this case.
178.

The relief sought herein only seeks to maintain the status quo, and provide Vilma

with the opportunity to carry on with his livelihood and passion.
179.

Vilma lacks a plain, speedy and adequate remedy at law. The NFL’s threatened

sanctions will cause Vilma substantial irreparable injury that cannot be remedied with monetary
compensation.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
180.

Vilma respectfully requests this Court to enter an order in his favor, granting the

following relief:
a. an order of specific performance compelling Goodell to issue the
Arbitration Award;
b. a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction enjoining the
NFL from instituting any suspension against Vilma if the discipline
imposed is affirmed; and

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c. such other and further relief as this Court deems just and equitable.
Dated: New York, New York
June 30, 2012

Respectfully submitted,
PETER R. GINSBERG LAW, LLC

By: s/ Peter R. Ginsberg_________
Peter R. Ginsberg, pro hac vice pending
12 East 49th Street, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10017
[phone]
[e-mail]
Attorneys for Plaintiff
Dated: New Orleans, Louisiana
June 30, 2012

WILLIAMS LAW GROUP, LLC

By: s/ Conrad S. P. Williams, III_______
Conrad S.P. Williams, III (#14499)
J. Christopher Zainey, Jr. (#32022)
909 Poydras Street, Suite 1625
New Orleans, LA 70112
[phone]
[e-mail]
Attorneys for Plaintiff

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