Von Miller is facing new legal troubles — and could soon be in hot water with the NFL as well.
The Buffalo Bills pass rusher was named in a lawsuit from a woman who claimed that he sent private, explicit images of her to two others in what the suit deemed an act of revenge. The lawsuit, first reported by TMZ Sports, comes a year after Miller faced a criminal investigation in Colorado that ended with no charges. This time, Miller could face potential discipline from the NFL.
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Miller Named in Lawsuit
According to TMZ, the lawsuit accused Miller of sharing an explicit image of the woman with two unnamed celebrities “in a fit of jealousy, anger, and rage.” The woman said the images were taken with the understanding that they would not be shared, and the lawsuit seeks financial damages along with an order that would bar the All-Pro from sharing the photo any further.
An attorney for the woman, listed in the filing as Jane Doe, accused Miller of abusing his power as a prominent figure.
“This case is a cautionary tale for young woman that date professional athletes like Miller that think laws do not apply because of fame, money, and power,” the lawsuit read.
“However, professional athletes are not exempt from the law and Miler’s vindictive, manipulative and unlawful actions must not be overlooked.”
Von Miller reportedly has been sued for sending a sexually-explicit photo of an unnamed woman to others “in a fit of jealously, anger, and rage.”
Last year, Miller faced a criminal investigation in Colorado for domestic violence allegations. Investigators later said he would not face charges, and Miller’s pregnant girlfriend took to Instagram to defend him against the allegations.
“In light of recent media reports regarding my relationship with Von, I feel that I need to address a couple things,” Me’Gan Denise wrote. “First and foremost, at no point in our relationship was there any type of physical abuse or violence by Von, whatsoever. For anyone to say otherwise, or speculate such, is wrong.”
Miller Could Face League Discipline
While he faces only civil and not criminal charges in the latest legal action, Miller could still face additional discipline from the NFL. The league and commissioner Roger Goodell have wide latitude to suspend players for off-the-field allegations, even when they don’t lead to criminal charges.
Miller could face a situation similar to quarterback Deshaun Watson, who faces 22 civil lawsuits from women accusing him of sexual assault and harassment. Though a grand jury ultimately decided not to indict Watson on any of the allegations, the league said in a statement that he remained under investigation for his personal conduct.
“Any transaction would have no effect on the NFL’s ongoing and comprehensive investigation of the serious allegations against Deshaun Watson,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said just before Watson was traded to the Cleveland Browns, via SI.com. “Nor would it affect his status under the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the Personal Conduct Policy.
“If the league’s investigation determines that Watson violated the Personal Conduct Policy, discipline may be imposed pursuant to the policy and the CBA.”
The league had not yet commented on the allegations against Miller, and the Bills pass rusher had not commented on the lawsuit.
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Bills’ Von Miller Could Be in Hot Water With NFL After Facing Lawsuit