By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis has reached a financial settlement in a civil lawsuit brought against him and four others by the daughter of one of the two men that the NFL's top defensive player was accused of murdering in 2000.
Terms of the settlement were not disclosed under a confidentiality agreement. But India Lollar, 4, the daughter of the slain Richard Lollar, is expected to receive a seven-figure payment under terms of the agreement. She and her mother, Kellye Smith, the fiance of Richard Lollar at the time of his death, originally sought $13 million in the suit.
The arrangement was agreed upon Thursday after several mediation sessions. A trial had been scheduled to begin June 14. Smith, who resides now in Decatur, Ga., reiterated on Saturday that she cannot discuss the settlement.
Lollar and a friend, Jacinth Baker, were stabbed to death in the Buckhead night life section of Atlanta in a melee several hours after the conclusion of Super Bowl XXXIV. Lewis, who was in Atlanta for the game pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor obstruction of justice charge and was sentenced to probation. Lewis was initially charged with murder, but those charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement.
The civil lawsuit, which will now be dropped, was filed in August 2001.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
ESPN.com
Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis has reached a financial settlement in a civil lawsuit brought against him and four others by the daughter of one of the two men that the NFL's top defensive player was accused of murdering in 2000.
Terms of the settlement were not disclosed under a confidentiality agreement. But India Lollar, 4, the daughter of the slain Richard Lollar, is expected to receive a seven-figure payment under terms of the agreement. She and her mother, Kellye Smith, the fiance of Richard Lollar at the time of his death, originally sought $13 million in the suit.
The arrangement was agreed upon Thursday after several mediation sessions. A trial had been scheduled to begin June 14. Smith, who resides now in Decatur, Ga., reiterated on Saturday that she cannot discuss the settlement.
Lollar and a friend, Jacinth Baker, were stabbed to death in the Buckhead night life section of Atlanta in a melee several hours after the conclusion of Super Bowl XXXIV. Lewis, who was in Atlanta for the game pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor obstruction of justice charge and was sentenced to probation. Lewis was initially charged with murder, but those charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement.
The civil lawsuit, which will now be dropped, was filed in August 2001.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
haha you guys know nothing about the justice system. his attorneys' fees alone would cost him 500k to try this case. so he pays 1 mil and moves on with his life...if you had his income and had this pending, you would do the same thing.
this is the exact reason why settlements/settlement discussions are not admissible in a court of law. because people think just cuz someone settles, they are guilty. WRONG!!!
this is the exact reason why settlements/settlement discussions are not admissible in a court of law. because people think just cuz someone settles, they are guilty. WRONG!!!
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by IDENTITY:
wil - you know nothing about the court system. of course if the guy made 30k a year, he'd try the case. but lewis doesnt have to.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
yeah wil, you know nothing. why don't you listen to id. afterall, not only is she an nfl expert, but obviously a legal expert too.
wil - you know nothing about the court system. of course if the guy made 30k a year, he'd try the case. but lewis doesnt have to.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
yeah wil, you know nothing. why don't you listen to id. afterall, not only is she an nfl expert, but obviously a legal expert too.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ClayHenry:
If the guy is so innocent spend the 7 figures on the attorney to prove it instead of paying someone to go away.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Just an update...was was proved innocent in a court of law.
I don't think he did it but he sure as HELL knows who did.
If the guy is so innocent spend the 7 figures on the attorney to prove it instead of paying someone to go away.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Just an update...was was proved innocent in a court of law.
I don't think he did it but he sure as HELL knows who did.
Everyone forget O.J. already. Slamdunked criminal trial, got crushed in civil suit. Settlements are just the only way to go. Sort of like a plea in a criminal. Limit your liabilities and move on. The legal system is like a spider web, the more you struggle, the longer you are in, the more entangled you become. I begin to forget who are the bad guys/criminals...OF
Innocent, did I miss something. I was under the impression he had a plea agreement, drop the murder for obstruction. Obviously DA would never agree to that if their case was not weak. Again, standard legal tactic. Throw everything at the wall, hope something sticks. I have not heard he was found innocent, ever. Best Wishes...OF
