PHOENIX — A former Arizona Cardinals executive has filed a new lawsuit against team owner Michael Bidwill after an NFL arbitrator recently ruled in his favor in a previous ruling.
Terry McDonough filed the suit with a couple of his family members against Bidwill and others because of a statement issued after McDonough made his arbitration claim against the Cardinals.
Documents from the Maricopa County Superior Court say the ex-Cardinals executive filed the complaint on Wednesday. McDonough, his wife and his daughter are listed as the plaintiffs in the case. On the other side are Bidwill, the Cardinals, the PR firm of Counterpoint Strategies, PR executive Jim McCarthy, the law firm of Gallagher & Kennedy, and lawyer Donald Peder Johnson, the defendants.
The plaintiffs are reportedly suing for defamation, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. This recent suit comes after an arbitrator ruled the Cardinals must pay McDonough $3 million for the false and malicious statements made in the released statement.
According to the new lawsuit, the defendants allegedly tried to “dig up dirt” on the McDonough family with the hope of discrediting McDonough after his legal claim made against the Cardinals.
According to NBC Sports football insider Mike Florio, there is a good chance this new arbitration process could become public record, unlike the NFL's arbitration process.
When asked for comment, the Cardinals issued the following statement:
“We are aware of the complaint but have no additional comment as it is an active legal matter.”
McDonough joined the Cardinals in 2013 and signed a two-year contract extension in May 2022. He was ultimately relieved of his duties in January 2023, three months before he filed the arbitration complaint.
This is a developing story. We will update it as more information becomes available.
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