SPYGATE LAWSUIT DISMISSED
A reader has tipped us off to a strange development in the so-called (by us) Spygate II lawsuit, which was filed by a loose-cannon (in our opinion) Kentucky lawyer on behalf of former Rams employee Willie Gary and others who allegedly were damaged by supposed cheating by the Patriots in conjunction with Super Bowl XXXVI.
The lawsuit has been dismissed.
But the decision didn't come on the merits. Instead, the plaintiffs voluntarily have dismissed the action.
"Plaintiffs filed this action in part on the basis of the public reports that the St. Louis Rams walk through the day before the 2002 Super Bowl was videotaped by the New England Patriots," the filing states. "These reports included Matt Walsh's own public comments."
Um, that statement is just wrong. The only public report of videotaping of the walk-through practice was in the February 2 Boston Herald, and Walsh was not quoted in the item -- even though he widely is believed to be the source of the story.
"These allegations came to light on February 2, 2008, the day before the 2008 Super Bowl," the document reads. "Bill Belichick did not publicly deny the allegations after the Super Bowl. . . . [T]hree days after the lawsuit was filed, on February 18, 2008, Bill Belichick publicly denied the allegations. In addition, the Patriots publicized that Matt Walsh was fired for taping conversations."
Here's the kicker -- the plaintiffs are under the impression that Walsh plans to plead the Fifth Amendment if/when he is deposed.
The dismissal has been made without prejudice, and the plaintiffs suggest that they will re-file the lawsuit if/when Walsh's knowledge comes to light.
