Media & Entertainment Law

Donte Stallworth Facing DUI Manslaughter Charges and Uncertain NFL Future

By Rick Karcher, Michael McCann, Geoffrey Rapp, Greg Skidmore, and Howard Wasserman

Stallworth, who will turn 29 in November, would likely struggle to resume an NFL career after serving several years in prison. In addition, he would not earn income while in prison, even if the Browns elected to hold onto his contract for salary cap purposes (as the Falcons did with Michael Vick after his conviction): pursuant to the NFL's personnel conduct policy, commissioner Roger Goodell would be poised to suspend Stallworth indefinitely following a conviction.

Stallworth's legal woes won't end with criminal law. Expect Reyes' family to consider bringing a wrongful death lawsuit against him under Florida tort law. As Florida employs a comparative negligence system, Reyes' responsibility for his own death -- e.g., failing to use the crosswalk -- would reduce any monetary judgment for Reyes' relatives.

Full post as published by Sports Law Blog on April 02, 2009 (boomark / email).