Falcons Want There Money Back Vick Lawyers In Court For State Charges

The Atlanta Falcons wants a refund on the $22 million in bonus money paid to quarterback Michael Vick.

"I don't expect it will go beyond a day," said University of Pennsylvania law professor Stephen B. Burbank, the special master who will serve as arbitrator of the hearing at the law school.


Attorneys representing the NFL Players Association will argue against the Falcons' claim.

The team is expected to contend that Vick knew he was in violation of the contract when he signed the $130 million deal in December 2004, and that he used proceeds from the deal to fund his dogfighting operation.

"I think clearly it's a reach on the part of the Falcons," said Jerry Reisman, a contract and business attorney based in Garden City, N.Y. "I think Vick earned that money. He received the roster bonus given out if you are on a roster at any point. He was on the roster in 2004 and earned the money."

Under the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, bonus money earned cannot be returned.

Also Wednesday, Vick's attorney appeared in Surry County (Va.) Circuit Court and was asked to return Nov. 27 to set a trial date on state charges. The attorney, Larry Woodward, told the judge he would be in touch with the prosecutor. It's possible Vick might agree to a plea deal or his attorneys could file a motion to toss the charges.

Vick has signed the summons to appear before a judge next week on state dogfighting charges

Michael Vick has signed a summons to appear before a Surry County judge next week on state dogfighting charges.

The Newport News native and three co-defendants are scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Sussex County, the temporary location of the Surry court.

On Tuesday, the grand jury indicted Vick on two felony counts -- one of animal cruelty and another of dogfighting.


The six-member panel rejected eight counts of dog killing that were presented by Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Poindexter.

Vick pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting charges in August and awaits sentencing in December.

Meantime, Vick is facing more money issues.

As we reported First Source Bank of South Bend says in a federal lawsuit it suffered damages of at least $2 million because Vick and Divine Seven LLC of Atlanta refused to pay for the vehicles. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

Last week, the Royal Bank of Canada sued Vick in federal court in Richmond for more than $2.3 million that it said he planned to use for real estate investments.

Mike Vick In The News Again This Time Its A Good Thing

Drawing of Lane Stadium signed by Mike Vick,And 7 other Hokies Will Be auctioned
A drawing of Lane Stadium signed by Michael Vick and seven other Virginia Tech football stars will be auctioned Saturday with proceeds going to the fund set up in the wake of the mass killings at Virginia Tech in April. Brian Hart went to work on the piece after a student gunman killed 32 people and committed suicide April 16 on the Blacksburg campus. He spent two months this summer tracking down eight of the nine former players whose names adorn Lane Stadium's banners that honor its greatest players, with the exception of the late Frank Loria.

"Like a lot of people--most people--I wanted to do something to give, do something to help" in the wake of the massacre, Hart said.



Hart, 43, visited Vick's Hampton Roads home to get the Atlanta Falcons quarterback's signature early this summer, weeks before dogfighting charges placed Vick in the national spotlight.

Since then, Vick has pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge, been indicted on state charges related to dogfighting and has been suspended indefinitely without pay from the Falcons. On Wednesday, a federal judge tightened restrictions on Vick after he tested positive for marijuana, a violation of the conditions of his release as he awaits sentencing on the federal conviction.

When Hart saw Vick, he said the quarterback was looking forward to the season staring and hoping to lead the Falcons to the Super Bowl. Hart said Vick was eager to help his alma mater.

"It has to have Michael Vick's autograph on there," Hart said "It's be incomplete without it."


To bid online: www.buycollegeart.com

As Reported Michael Vick Indicted On State Dogfighting Charges

Michael Vick now indicted on state dogfighting charges
QB already has pleaded guilty in federal case,and will be sentenced Dec. 10


SUSSEX, Va. - Michael Vick, already looking at a federal prison term for bankrolling a dogfighting operation in rural Virginia, now faces two state charges that could get him more prison time if he’s convicted.

After a Surry County grand jury indicted the Atlanta Falcons quarterback and three co-defendants Tuesday, Vick’s lawyers indicated they will fight the state charges on the grounds that he can’t be convicted twice of the same crime.

The NFL star, scheduled for sentencing Dec. 10 after pleading guilty to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges, faces state charges of beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting. Each felony is punishable by up to five years in prison. Arraignments are set for Oct. 3.



The grand jury declined to indict the 27-year-old Vick and two co-defendants on eight additional counts of killing or causing to be killed a companion animal, felonies that would have exposed them to as many as 40 years in prison if convicted.

Vick defense attorney Billy Martin said in a statement that the state counts concern “the same conduct covered by the federal indictment for which Mr. Vick has already accepted full responsibility.”

Martin said he will “aggressively protect his rights to ensure that he is not held accountable for the same conduct twice.”

Vick was convicted of a federal conspiracy count while the state indictment deals with the act of dog fighting, said Steven Benjamin, a Richmond defense lawyer who is not involved in the case. The prosecution will argue that’s enough of a difference to allow the charges to proceed, he said.

Surry County Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald G. Poindexter had told The Associated Press on Monday night that he would seek indictments on different crimes than the ones Vick admitted to in federal court. He did not elaborate to reporters outside court Tuesday.

The charges are the first leveled against Vick in the county where he built a home that became the base of the dogfighting operation, where local investigators first uncovered evidence of the enterprise.

None of the defendants nor their lawyers were at the Sussex County courthouse, where the grand jury met because the courthouse in neighboring Surry County is closed for renovations.

Poindexter told reporters he was not disappointed the grand jury passed on the eight additional dog killing counts.

“I’m just glad to get this to the position where it is now and, one day in the not too distant future, we will be rid of these cases,” he said.



In a written statement, Poindexter and Sheriff Harold Brown attempted to diffuse in advance any suggestion that race influenced the grand jury. Brown, Poindexter and the four defendants are black, as are four of the six grand jurors.

“These are serious charges, and we can assure you that this grand jury was not driven by racial prejudice, their affection or lack of affection for professional athletes, or the influence of animal rights activists and the attendant publicity,” the statement said.

In pleading guilty to the federal charges last month, Vick admitted helping kill six to eight dogs, among other things. He faces up to five years in prison.

Vick’s co-defendants had pleaded guilty earlier and detailed Vick’s role in the grisly enterprise.

In the state case, co-defendant Purnell Peace was indicted on one count of beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and one count of engaging in or promoting dogfighting. Quanis Phillips was indicted on one count of engaging in or promoting dogfighting.

Tony Taylor, who left the enterprise several years ago and was the first to plead guilty, faces the most serious state charges — three counts of beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and one count of engaging in or promoting dogfighting.



Falcons spokesman Reggie Roberts said the team had no comments on the new charges.

The case began in late April when authorities conducting a drug investigation of Vick’s cousin raided the former Virginia Tech star’s property and seized dozens of dogs, most of them pit bulls, and equipment commonly associated with dogfighting.

Six weeks later, with the local investigation perceived to be dragging and a local search warrant allowed to expire, federal agents arrived with their own search warrants and started digging up dog carcasses buried days before the first raid.

Poindexter, widely criticized for the pace of the investigation, reacted angrily when the feds moved in, suggesting that Vick’s celebrity was a draw, or that their pursuit of the case could have racial overtones. He later eased off those comments, saying the sides would simply be pursuing parallel investigations.