Disagreements In Jameis Winston Settlement Talks
TMZ (and now other outlets) is reporting that Jameis Winston's accuser sought $7 million dollars in exchange for never hearing from her or her attorney again. This comes from a recent letter from Winston's legal advisor, David Cronwell (BIG time sports attorney), regarding Winston's agreeing to participate in the Title IX investigation. Cronwell states in the letter that four days after he received the letter, the accuser's attorney went to the media. The accuser's attorney insinuated that the encounter had to be rape because she would never sleep with a "black boy."
Take into account the attorneys in play and their respective careers. Cronwell is a highly respected and successful national attorney. Saying something like this without proof is very iffy, especially under Florida's pretty strict Prof. Conduct rules. Interesting to say the least. Also, the use of the word "settle" is questionable in this context, if it pertained to a criminal action. Dropping criminal charges in exchange for payment is a no-no. In civil cases, fine. The word extortion has been tossed around and might be more appropriate.
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/09/24/report-winstons-acc…
http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2014-09-24/jameis-winst…
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/according-to-lawyer-for…
MOD EDIT - I saw MGlobules comments, and admittedly I didn't really think about the title of this thread as it came into being while I was in a meeting and then rather distracted by other things for much of the evening. On more thoughtful examination, yeah, the title needs some changing. Hopefully, this works - LSA
September 24th, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^
this doesn't sound fishy at all...
September 24th, 2014 at 1:52 PM ^
yeah
and it doesn't smell fishy either.
September 24th, 2014 at 3:43 PM ^
underrated comedy lines. Say it to the younger generation and they thinks its dumb...classic stuff. Gets me every time.
September 25th, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^
My 16 year old daughter doesn't get it, but my 13 year old does. Just a matter of getting them exposed to the right stuff!!!
September 24th, 2014 at 1:58 PM ^
September 24th, 2014 at 2:48 PM ^
It smells more like crab legs.
September 25th, 2014 at 8:06 AM ^
to say that she ALLEGEDLY wanted 7 large; very off.
EDIT: This is a reprehensibly one-side take on the story:
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2014/09/24/jameis-winston-florid...
EDIT: THANKS!
September 24th, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^
This is OT: and i agree he was obviously being extorted or atleast she tried. I still don't like this guy though and think he will be nothing but trouble for the NFL team that drafts him.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:34 PM ^
Thanks. Never would have guessed this was OT without your help.
September 24th, 2014 at 3:51 PM ^
Based on what exactly? A third-hand TMZ article? Inside info? And yet, you "don't like this guy".
September 24th, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^
Well yeah, there was that whole rape thing...
But I understand how you wouldn't like him even if you think he didn't do it. The guy lacks so much self-awareness and maturity, it's baffling.
September 25th, 2014 at 11:27 AM ^
Agree 100%. The guy is just bad news and it seems to stick with him wherever he goes...
September 24th, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^
I would never sleep with a black boy.
fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap fap
September 24th, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^
Me either. Mostly because I'm a white, cisgender, heterosexual male.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:07 PM ^
I think the bigger concern would be touching boys.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^
What the hell is cisgender? ive never heard of this? are you like, an alien?
September 24th, 2014 at 2:21 PM ^
Cisgender = not transgender.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:57 PM ^
that I would learn a word like this on a Michigan sports blog.
September 24th, 2014 at 3:00 PM ^
Definitely more likely here than most other sports blogs I've been to in the past.
September 24th, 2014 at 4:00 PM ^
but in that creepy grandpa way.
September 24th, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^
It can be both a rape/sexual assault AND an extortion attempt. The two things are not mutually exclusive.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^
This is true. I'd hate to think of something like that happening to me but if it did, getting revenge by extorting a bunch of money would probably sound pretty good.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^
Very true, but in these types of cases, absense of any damning facts, it basically boils down to a "he said, she said," and if she was indeed trying to go the extortion route, it would seriously damage her credibilty in the judgemental eye of the public and subsequently any jury.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:18 PM ^
But she would have known going in that she had a very, very large hill to climb in the judgmental eye of the local public and any jury. Maybe she'd already given up on that route before the extortion attempt?
September 24th, 2014 at 2:28 PM ^
Didn't the two guys who filmed the incident--and admitted to filming it--get thrown out of school? Didn't one of them say he tried to get Winston to stop? I don't think we're going to be able to make Winston innocent whether the girl is an idiot or not. Plenty of idiocy to go around.
September 25th, 2014 at 2:11 AM ^
September 24th, 2014 at 3:26 PM ^
...nevermind.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^
I would never sleep with an extorter!
September 24th, 2014 at 3:10 PM ^
September 24th, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^
Edit: Clearly a poor taste of a photo(removed) given the situation. For that I apologize. With that said, wouldn't this somewhat hurt her case if extortion is indeed involved. You would think that most rape/sexual assualt victims couldn't be bought out and would rather see their offender punished by law.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^
Sterotyping sexual assault victims? Better quit before you dig yourself deeper into a hole.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:40 PM ^
Sterotyping how? It was an honest question. What's the point of having an open discussion with closed minded individuals who aren't willing to shed light on the admittedly less informed? This is why I try to stay away from topics such as these. Everybody picks one side and negs to bolivia anyone who tries to show perspective or ask questions. If I wasn't clear enough in my questioning, that's my fault. But dont attack me for it.
September 24th, 2014 at 3:08 PM ^
You would think that most rape/sexual assualt victims
September 24th, 2014 at 3:29 PM ^
I'm well aware of the definition of "sterotype." That was more of an assumption than a sterotype, and was also posted inquisitively. At least that was my intent. Instead of asking me if I was being sterotypical, you assumed I was. You're not here to assist or inform, therefore our conversation is done.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:34 AM ^
September 24th, 2014 at 7:48 PM ^
You don't understand how insenstive your statement was. Even if you meant it as a question, the tone of it presumed something you cannnot possible feel unless you have been a rape/sexual assault victim.
September 24th, 2014 at 3:19 PM ^
Victims of sexual assaults often don't report their attacks at all. Those that do often choose not to pursue prosecution. There can be many reasons for this. The victims can be psychologically vulnerable. The legal process can be very difficult, especially when the defense often tries to blame the victim and the accuser's personal life is exposed to a lot of scrutiny. Police and prosecutors are often reluctant to pursue he said/she said cases. Throw in the anticipated reactions of local fans in this case and life could easily get very unpleasant.
September 24th, 2014 at 3:32 PM ^
Very informative. Thank you.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:05 PM ^
Tread lightly, please.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:09 PM ^
Just to be clear...
You think that a huge-name attorney became a huge-name attorney by NOT exaggerating facts and/or making them up?
September 24th, 2014 at 2:14 PM ^
I doubt it. I'm not a lawyer (but one of the many lawyers here can back me up, if this I'm accurate), but lying with something like this is a reaaaaallyyy good way to get disbarred.
Quote from /r/CFB:
Good distinction, however (Florida attorney here) I don't know if this helps or hurts but, there are VERY strict rules on attorney's conduct in this state (we have an entire professional code of conduct) and "lying" is a huge no-no. If it was discovered that Winston's attorney was lying, he could be disbarred. Putting a statement out there like this would be a career-ender if it wasn't true or verifiable in some way shape or form.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:29 PM ^
I am a lawyer, let's see if I can help you out.
Just about every state in the country has their own code of conduct, or rules of professional conduct, etc. Those that don't have adopted the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct.
If every attorney in this country has to abide by these rules, then by your logic, no attorney would ever lie, exaggerate, misrepresent, etc. facts. This should obviously raise a red-flag with pretty much everybody reading that sentence.
Here is the truth: Attorneys shouldn't lie, exaggerate, misrepresent, etc. facts. But then this would conflict with their duty to "zealously advocate on behalf of their clients" under those same rules. See how it gets tricky?
Bottom line: don't believe anything a lawyer says to the public. They are just advocating on behalf of their client. And "facts" are easy to argue over. She said "$7M!!!" "No I didn't." Who is lying? We will never know.
Also, disbarrment is only for the most egregious violations of the rules. There are several other wrist-slaps that BARs can take long before they revoke your license to practice law. One such popular example is to publish your name to the public so they can see how bad you are. Have you EVER seen that publication? Neither has anyone else.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^
Makes sense. Thanks for the explanation +1
September 24th, 2014 at 3:03 PM ^
who can we trust?
September 24th, 2014 at 4:29 PM ^
...he's a lawyer, and he says "don't trust lawyers."
So I call BULLSHIT and every single thing he just said. -1 NOT informative you liar!!
September 24th, 2014 at 2:37 PM ^
that this attorney flew down for a meeting and offered money to make the case go away. Is one of them lying? Perhaps not. Are there some exaggerations, misrepresentations and misleading comments? I'd bet there are. In any case, I'd never feel comfortable believing everything a lawyer says to protect their client.
September 24th, 2014 at 2:21 PM ^
Nah...all the evidence is adding up he raped her. He totally yelled silly stuff in public.