In article <ssnaql$kqie$2@news.freedyn.de>
<governor.swill@gmail.com> wrote:
>
COLLIN COUNTY, Texas - Michael Irvin�s legal team is accusing
Marriott Hotels of legal maneuvering to avoid releasing video of
the so-called incident that got him sidelined from Super Bowl
coverage.

It comes days after a court-ordered deadline for the company to
share the evidence.

Irvin�s legal team is accusing Marriott of changing venues and
preventing the hall of famer from clearing his name.

According to court documents, a Collin County district court
judge ordered the hotel to turn over all security video and
witness statements pertaining to Irvin�s stay at the Renaissance
Phoenix Hotel in February.

The NFL Network removed Irvin from Super Bowl coverage after a
woman � a waitress at the hotel � complained that he said
something to her.

Irvin said he remembers returning to the hotel after a night
out. He said he took photos with fans in the lobby, shook the
woman�s hand and then went up to his room alone to go to bed.

He filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit in Collin county
where he lives. Irvin claims the hotel has refused to talk to
him about the alleged incident.

In the lawsuit, Irvin said a security crew woke him up to remove
him from the hotel without any explanation.

"Marriott recklessly reported to the NFL that Mr. Irvin had
somehow acted inappropriately even though in this brief
interaction with multiple witnesses, nothing took place other
than a friendly interaction that ended with a polite handshake,"
the lawsuit states.

The district judge also gave Marriott Hotels a deadline of Feb.
20 to reveal the name of the woman who complained about Irvin,
the name of her boss who took the complaint, the name of the
person who contacted the NFL, and the names of those who were
contacted at the NFL.

"The NFL responded by removing [Irvin] from all scheduled
programming surrounding the Super Bowl on NFL Network and ESPN.
Despite [Irvin�s] diligent efforts, he has been unable to
ascertain who specifically made these allegations, and why they
were reported to the NFL without any confirmation by the hotel,"
the court document states.

Irvin's legal team gave a statement to FOX 4:

What does that video show? We would all like to know.
They say they were upset about it enough to ban Michael Irvin
from the hotel and get him taken off the air, but they won�t
show him the tape or give him ANY details about what the
allegations are - not who, not what, not when, not even exactly
where.
They contacted his employer, but they won�t tell him. We gave
them names of people who identify themselves as witnesses.
Despite the fact they stayed in their hotel, they didn�t even
bother to talk to them.

� Levi G. McCathern, II, attorney for Michael Irvin
However, Marriott did on Monday file to move the case to federal
court.

Irvin�s legal team shot back in a court filing Wednesday,
writing, "The timing of its removal is clearly indicative of its
desire to out-maneuver the state court�s order rather than
provide the requested footage."

Irvin�s legal team says he�s already been forced to cancel
appearances. They say he is expected to work the NFL Combine in
two weeks but likely won�t if Marriott doesn�t turn over
evidence regarding the allegations against him.

Even if the case stays in federal court, the Collin County
judge's rulings would remain in place unless the federal judge
decides to overrule them.

<https://www.fox4news.com/news/michael-irvin-lawsuit-hotel-
ordered-to-turn-over-name-of-accuser-in-defamation-case>