Report: Financial agreement avoids suit (Donte Stallworth)

[Dos Equis]

Smart decision by Stallworth.

Report: Financial agreement avoids suit
ESPN.com news services

MIAMI -- Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth was sentenced to serve 30 days in jail after pleading guilty in Florida to a DUI manslaughter charge.

The plea deal announced Tuesday calls for the 28-year-old Stallworth to also serve 10 years' probation and perform 1,000 community service hours for hitting and killing 59-year-old construction worker Mario Reyes with his car. Stallworth had faced up to 15 years in prison.

Stallworth also reached a confidential financial settlement with the Reyes' family. A person close to the negotiations told The Association Press about the agreement on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about the deal.

The person said the agreement will avoid a potential wrongful death lawsuit from Reyes' family.

Miami Beach police said Stallworth was drinking at the swank Fontainebleau hotel bar before the March 14 crash. He left to go to a nearby home -- he owns three properties in the Miami area -- in his black 2005 Bentley on MacArthur Causeway, which links the beach to downtown Miami.

Prosecutors say Stallworth hit Reyes, a construction crane operator who was rushing to catch a bus after finishing his shift around 7:15 a.m. Stallworth told police he flashed his lights in an attempt to warn Reyes, who was not in a crosswalk when he was struck.

A spokeswoman for the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office said Reyes' family has been pushing hard to resolve the case.

"We have been in intense negotiations for the past couple of days," spokeswoman Terry Chavez said. "We always take the victim's wishes into account."

Stallworth had a blood-alcohol level of .126 after the crash, well above Florida's .08 limit. Stallworth has also has cooperated with investigators and issued a statement shortly after the crash expressing sympathy for Reyes' family.

Stallworth stopped after the crash and immediately told officers he had hit Reyes. Police estimated Stallworth was driving about 50 mph in a 40 mph zone.

Stallworth signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns before last season but was injured much of the year. He also has played for New England, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

The NFL has said it will review the matter for possible disciplinary action after the legal case is completed.

David Cornwell, a Stallworth attorney handling the NFL situation, said he has kept top league officials apprised of the case.

"Whenever it is appropriate to do so, we are prepared to discuss the circumstances under which Donte' will resume his career," Cornwell said.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4262751

[UPINTHEMGUTS]

Money talks......30 days for DUI manslaughter? Wow.

Florida had some very lax manslaughter laws......

[Dos Equis]

Money talks......30 days for DUI manslaughter? Wow.

Florida had some very lax manslaughter laws......

Not necessarily.  The articles says he was facing 15 years.  He pretty much just bought his freedom by settling up with the family. 

[ATHEIST]

thats pretty despicable, i guess money can buy happiness and freedom

[2ND COMING]

i can't believe vick will serve more time than stallworth 

[Dos Equis]

thats pretty despicable, i guess money can buy happiness and freedom

Sad but true. 

[Dos Equis]

i can't believe vick will serve more time than stallworth 

Vick served two years.  Stallworth will serve thirty days

[UPINTHEMGUTS]

Not necessarily.  The articles says he was facing 15 years.  He pretty much just bought his freedom by settling up with the family. 

Like I said.....money talks.

[Dos Equis]

Like I said.....money talks.

Yes it does.  I was referring to this part:

Florida had some very lax manslaughter laws......

He was facing 15 years. 

[body88]

Vick served two years.  Stallworth will serve thirty days

Blame the Judge and the family for taking the cash.

[Dos Equis]

Blame the Judge and the family for taking the cash.

Not really blaming anyone.  It's another unfortunate example of how money corrupts parts of our society.

I can't fault the family for taking the money and essentially letting Stallworth walk.  My problem is with the guy who engages in the same conduct, but makes $40,000 a year and can't write a seven-figure check to buy his freedom.   

[Doug_Steele]

Money talks......30 days for DUI manslaughter? Wow.

Florida had some very lax manslaughter laws......

24 days actually and yes, the laws down here are screwed up 

[TrapsMcLats]

Roger Goodell is cracking down on him though.  I hope he gets banned for life.

[jerseyhurricane]

i can't believe Vick will serve more time than stallworth 

Why not? What Stallworth did was involuntary...it happens to thousands of people. What Vick did was full of malicious intent.

[Dos Equis]

Why not? What Stallworth did was involuntary...it happens to thousands of people. What Vick did was full of malicious intent.

Because one of them killed dogs and the other killed a person. 

[Dos Equis]

Stallworth suspended indefinitely

Cleveland Browns receiver Donte' Stallworth was suspended by the NFL indefinitely without pay following his guilty plea to DUI manslaughter in the death of a pedestrian, the league announced Thursday.

Stallworth was sentenced in a Miami court Tuesday to 30 days in jail, a controversial ruling that drew a great deal of criticism.

Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote a detailed letter to Stallworth explaining the stiff penalty levied by the league.

"The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable," Goodell wrote. "While the criminal justice system has determined the legal consequences of this incident, it is my responsibility as NFL commissioner to determine the appropriate league discipline for your actions, which have caused irreparable harm to the victim and his family, your club, your fellow players and the NFL."


“
There is no reasonable dispute that your continued eligibility for participation at this time would undermine the integrity of and public confidence in our league.

”
-- Commissioner Roger Goodell
 
The suspension is effective immediately, but Goodell still plans to schedule a meeting with Stallworth, who signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns last year. But now it appears the team will have no choice but to cut ties with the seven-year veteran.

Browns spokesman Neal Gulkis said the team would comment later.

The last indefinite suspension handed down by Goodell was to Adam "Pacman" Jones of the Dallas Cowboys in October 2008. That punishment turned into a six-week ban.

In a memo sent to all 32 NFL teams, obtained by ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen from a team source, Goodell sought to reinforce the league's policy on "alcohol-related misconduct."

"DUI is a serious matter which poses great risks to both those who drive under the influence, and innocent third parties. This truth was tragically underscored in Mr. Stallworth's case," Goodell wrote in the memo.

"In the past few years, I have not hesitated to impose discipline, including suspensions, on club and league employees who have violated the law relating to alcohol use. Every club should advise its employees of their obligations and our commitment to hold people accountable for alcohol-related violations of law."

Stallworth caught 17 passes for 170 yards and one touchdown with the Browns last season.

Stallworth began serving a 30-day jail sentence Tuesday. He also was sentenced to two years of house arrest following his release from jail, and will be on probation for eight years. He had faced 15 years in prison.

The punishment was made possible by his cooperation with investigators and the fervent wish by the victim's family to put the matter behind them.

Stallworth, 28, also reached a confidential financial settlement with the family of 59-year-old Mario Reyes, a Miami construction worker struck and killed early on March 14 by Stallworth, who was driving drunk in his black 2005 Bentley.

But Goodell showed no mercy in the wording of his letter to Stallworth.

"There is no reasonable dispute that your continued eligibility for participation at this time would undermine the integrity of and public confidence in our league," he said.

And in his memo to the teams, Goodell made his message quite clear: "Let's make sure that the 2009 season does not bring more tragedy or embarrassment to ourselves and our employees."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4270311

[UPINTHEMGUTS]

Stallworth suspended indefinitely

Cleveland Browns receiver Donte' Stallworth was suspended by the NFL indefinitely without pay following his guilty plea to DUI manslaughter in the death of a pedestrian, the league announced Thursday.

Stallworth was sentenced in a Miami court Tuesday to 30 days in jail, a controversial ruling that drew a great deal of criticism.

Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote a detailed letter to Stallworth explaining the stiff penalty levied by the league.

"The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable," Goodell wrote. "While the criminal justice system has determined the legal consequences of this incident, it is my responsibility as NFL commissioner to determine the appropriate league discipline for your actions, which have caused irreparable harm to the victim and his family, your club, your fellow players and the NFL."


“
There is no reasonable dispute that your continued eligibility for participation at this time would undermine the integrity of and public confidence in our league.

”
-- Commissioner Roger Goodell
 
The suspension is effective immediately, but Goodell still plans to schedule a meeting with Stallworth, who signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns last year. But now it appears the team will have no choice but to cut ties with the seven-year veteran.

Browns spokesman Neal Gulkis said the team would comment later.

The last indefinite suspension handed down by Goodell was to Adam "Pacman" Jones of the Dallas Cowboys in October 2008. That punishment turned into a six-week ban.

In a memo sent to all 32 NFL teams, obtained by ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen from a team source, Goodell sought to reinforce the league's policy on "alcohol-related misconduct."

"DUI is a serious matter which poses great risks to both those who drive under the influence, and innocent third parties. This truth was tragically underscored in Mr. Stallworth's case," Goodell wrote in the memo.

"In the past few years, I have not hesitated to impose discipline, including suspensions, on club and league employees who have violated the law relating to alcohol use. Every club should advise its employees of their obligations and our commitment to hold people accountable for alcohol-related violations of law."

Stallworth caught 17 passes for 170 yards and one touchdown with the Browns last season.

Stallworth began serving a 30-day jail sentence Tuesday. He also was sentenced to two years of house arrest following his release from jail, and will be on probation for eight years. He had faced 15 years in prison.

The punishment was made possible by his cooperation with investigators and the fervent wish by the victim's family to put the matter behind them.

Stallworth, 28, also reached a confidential financial settlement with the family of 59-year-old Mario Reyes, a Miami construction worker struck and killed early on March 14 by Stallworth, who was driving drunk in his black 2005 Bentley.

But Goodell showed no mercy in the wording of his letter to Stallworth.

"There is no reasonable dispute that your continued eligibility for participation at this time would undermine the integrity of and public confidence in our league," he said.

And in his memo to the teams, Goodell made his message quite clear: "Let's make sure that the 2009 season does not bring more tragedy or embarrassment to ourselves and our employees."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4270311

You can bet Goodell felt deep down that Stallworth got off easy, even though he would never admit that publicly. I love Goodell. He does not play around when it comes to handing down discipline. You may not get many second and third chances after you fuck up the first time. The severity of the crime involved does have a major influence, of course. But Goodell wants his NFL players to be of high character and recongnize that playing in the NFL is not your right. It's a privilige.

[jerseyhurricane]

Because one of them killed dogs and the other killed a person. 

Yeah but stallworth didn't wake up one morning and say "I'm gonna kill a person today". But Vick had every intention of doing what he did.

[Dos Equis]

You can bet Goodell felt deep down that Stallworth got off easy, even though he would never admit that publicly. I love Goodell. He does not play around when it comes to handing down discipline. You may not get many second and third chances after you fuck up the first time. The severity of the crime involved does have a major influence, of course. But Goodell wants his NFL players to be of high character and recongnize that playing in the NFL is not your right. It's a privilige.

I agree. 

[Dos Equis]

Yeah but stallworth didn't wake up one morning and say "I'm gonna kill a person today". But Vick had every intention of doing what he did.

What he did was get behind the wheel knowing he had been drinking, knowing that drinking impairs driving, and knowing that thousands of people are seriously injured and killed by drunk drivers every year.  Yes what Vick did was intentional, so I agree with you to that extent.  The difference is still dogs vs. people, and people are more important and more valuable than animals. 

There is something wrong with a system that sends a man away for 2 years for killing dogs, but allows a man who kills a person to spend 30 days in jail.  Money corrupts at so many levels.   

[jerseyhurricane]

What he did was get behind the wheel knowing he had been drinking, knowing that drinking impairs driving, and knowing that thousands of people are seriously injured and killed by drunk drivers every year.  Yes what Vick did was intentional, so I agree with you to that extent.  The difference is still dogs vs. people, and people are more important and more valuable than animals. 

There is something wrong with a system that sends a man away for 2 years for killing dogs, but allows a man who kills a person to spend 30 days in jail.  Money corrupts at so many levels.   

He definitely deserved more than 30 days...but the way you made it sound was that Vick didn't deserve two years.

[2ND COMING]

Why not? What Stallworth did was involuntary...it happens to thousands of people. What Vick did was full of malicious intent.

the fact is he was drunk behind the wheel, THAT was voluntary. Sure he didnt mean it. Big deal. "involuntary". That's shit.

[Dos Equis]

He definitely deserved more than 30 days...but the way you made it sound was that Vick didn't deserve two years.

He didn't.  I could see him doing some time, but with all of the other consequences (loss of his job, loss of his property, loss of endorsements, fines, state court prosecution, bankruptcy, and becoming a pariah), two years was just overkill.  The fact we (society) lock up someone like Vick for two years and let others who kill people basically walk is shameful.  People like Stallworth are a much bigger threat to society than people like Vick. 

[ATHEIST]

He didn't.  I could see him doing some time, but with all of the other consequences (loss of his job, loss of his property, loss of endorsements, fines, state court prosecution, bankruptcy, and becoming a pariah), two years was just overkill.  The fact we (society) lock up someone like Vick for two years and let others who kill people basically walk is shameful.  People like Stallworth are a much bigger threat to society than people like Vick. 

Vick and Stallworth's case have nothing to do with each other. One can be used as an example of how to handle yourself properly during an investigation and the other couldnt have been handled worse.

Stallworth was completely cooperative with the police, complied with the sobriety tests, didnt lie, was willing to offer financial support to the victims family. The financial settlement was was a result of a mutual agreement between the victim's family and Stallworth. The fact that the man darted out on the the street and not in a crosswalk also had an effect. Coupled with the fact that Stallworth had no previous criminal record or even a single traffic violation.

Vick on the other hand financed the operation for years, knew what he was doing was illegal, lied to the feds on more than one occasion, failed a drug test during the court process and would not admit guilt until he had no choice.

this has nothing to do with comparing the value of a dogs life and a humans life. Both cases were handled correctly IMO.

[ATHEIST]

yes someone without the $$ Stallworth had would not be so fortunate, but that follows life. People with more money can afford better lawyers and doctors better cars and so forth