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Finally: Brett Favre Getting Sued For Sexual Harassment
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Jan 4, 2011
Modified Jan 4, 2011
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By
Jaya Saxena
Published Jan 4, 2011
Modified Jan 4, 2011
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Though Jenn Sterger lost her opportunity to file a lawsuit against Brett Favre for sextual harassment while he was a Jet, the now-former QB's seductive endeavors will not be going unpunished. He's already been fined $50,000 by the NFL for his misconduct, and now two massage therapists have filed a suit against Favre and the New York Jets, claiming they lost their jobs with the team after complaining about sexually suggestive texts they received from him. They also say the Jets fostered "a hotbed of sexual harassment, sexism and inappropriate behavior."
Christina Scavo and Shannon O'Toole say they never received any texts directly from Favre, but claim he texted an unidentified third massage therapist about getting together with them. Two messages cited in the suit read, "Brett here you and crissy want to get together im all alone" and, "Kinda lonely tonight, I guess I have bad intentions." He also apparently brushed off Scavo's husband when he demanded that Favre apologize to his wife. To make matters worse, the two claim that the Jets preferred to protect their quarterback instead of two loyal massage therapists, and massage coordinator Lisa Ripi told them, "Chrissy and you will never work for the Jets again," and, "Keep your mouth shut" after they complained. Ripi has been named as a defendant along with Favre and the Jets.
As for why the lawsuit is surfacing now instead of in 2008, Sterger's lawyer suggets, "Clearly, (the massage therapists) were just as dissatisfied with the NFL's decision as we were. Or lack of a decision, for that matter." The NFL investigation did look into claims that Favre harassed massage therapists, but said that people with "potentially relevant information" were not coming forward. O'Toole's and Scavo's lawyer, David Jaroslawicz, claims he told investigators any information he had and that his clients held off on the lawsuit because they were hoping Favre would be punished after the NFL investigation. The two women are seeking unspecified monetary damages.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that Favre was "not candid in several respects during the investigation," but CBS Legal Analyst Jack Ford said that's likely because the NFL "couldn't compel people to come show up and answer questions." Now he says, "At some point in time, Brett Favre's going to have to sit down, put his hand on a Bible, swear to tell the truth and answer some questions."
Tagged
brett favre
texting
sexting
sexual harassment
jets
christina scavo
new york jets
shannon o'toole
lawsuit
Jaya Saxena
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