Dolphins File Suit Against Ricky

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Posted on Sat, Oct. 30, 2004




DOLPHINS


Dolphins file suit vs. Ricky

BY ARMANDO SALGUERO

asalguero@herald.com


The Dolphins filed a lawsuit against Ricky Williams in federal court for the Southern District of Florida on Friday, a possible move by the team toward getting a refund of $8.6 million an arbitrator ruled the running back owes the team.

The actual suit was not available for inspection Friday evening because the clerk's office had not finished inputting it into its computer system. But the suit was assigned a case number, and Judge Marcia Cooke is listed to hear arguments if the case goes to trial.

The Dolphins have been determined in their attempts to recoup bonus and incentive monies paid to Williams. He retired a week before the start of training camp in July.

The Dolphins declined specific comment regarding the lawsuit.

''It's in the judicial system,'' club spokesman Harvey Greene said.

An arbitrator ruled that language in Williams' contract specified that the player must repay the team $8.6 million because his retirement was a breach of the contract.

Williams recently decided he wants to return to the NFL. Last week, his lawyer, David Cornwell, met with NFL attorneys to learn how Williams could return this year.

Cornwell said after that meeting he intended to get Williams back into the NFL as soon as possible and promised to send the league a letter making such a request.

''We have not received a communication from [Cornwell],'' league spokesman Greg Aiello said Friday.

The process is going forward, Cornwell said, but had no other comment. He was not asked about the lawsuit because it was filed later in the day and Cornwell was unavailable for comment.

Herald staff writers Jay Weaver, Patrick Danner and Jason Cole contributed to this report.
 
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