If the Washington Redskins are going to go after the $21 million bonus they paid suspended defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth earlier this year, they had better get in line. Jon Perry, the Tennessee attorney representing the man Haynesworth allegedly paralyzed in a December 2008 car accident, is moving to get in the front of that line with the lawsuit they have filed.
“We want to move forward quickly before Haynesworth does something stupid again,” Perry said. “He appears to be unraveling.”
Haynesworth is being sued by Corey Edmonson of Nashville as a result of a December 2008 accident that Perry said has left his client disabled.
According to the police report cited in The Tennessean, a witness driving 79 mph on Interstate 65 said she was passed by Haynesworth, driving a 2008 black Ferrari, who allegedly then tried to pass Edmonson’s 1999 Grand Marquis. Edmonson lost control and crashed into a concrete median.
The lawsuit says Haynesworth was driving at speeds more than 100 mph when the accident occurred. Four days before the accident, Haynesworth appeared in court on a ticket he received for driving 103 mph on the same highway in March 2008.
Perry said Edmonson, 27, who has been cared for by his parents at their home since the accident, is permanently disabled.
“Corey has only left his parent’s house three times this entire year,” Perry said. “He cannot walk or stand up without assistance and cannot work. He would love to be able to return to his $9-an-hour job, but he cannot. In comparison, Haynesworth didn’t show up to his job despite getting another $21 million in April and when he did show up he did not really show up on the field.”
Perry said the case is still pending, but they are hoping to set a trial date soon.
“It looks like Haynesworth’s latest poor decisions have freed up his schedule, so maybe we can schedule deadlines earlier,” Perry said. “Haynesworth will not be busy with practices or games for a while so he can now make himself available for this case.”
Edmonson is reportedly asking for $7.5 million in compensatory damages and punitive damages that are no less than 25 percent of guaranteed money Haynesworth received from Washington — the same guaranteed money the Redskins are expected to go after.
General manager Bruce Allen, when asked by reporters Friday about pursuing Haynesworth’s bonus money, simply answered, “We really never discuss our football business.”
If the Redskins do pursue Haynesworth’s money, there will be others in line besides Corey Edmonson. According to reports, a Tennessee bank is suing him for not paying a $2.38 million loan. His ex-wife has been in court charging him with not paying her health insurance or their children’s bills.
Then there is Silvia Mean, the exotic dancer who is reportedly suing Haynesworth for $10 million for allegedly impregnating her.
It’s not exactly clear if the Redskins do go after the $21 million they paid Haynesworth in bonus money how successful they would be. But Perry said he isn’t concerned if the piece of the Haynesworth bonus pie is sliced up before they get to it. “The guy is going to have assets and will continue to work,” he said. “That will be collectible if we get a judgement against him.”
This is Albert Haynesworth’s future — lawsuits and judgements.
Examiner columnist Thom Loverro is the co-host of “The Sports Fix” from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on ESPN 980 and espn980.com. Contact him at [email protected].
