Vilma's Lawsuit vs. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Dismissed

By Adam Ramirez on January 18, 2013 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

A federal defamation suit by New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was dismissed Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Helen Berrigan in New Orleans said Vilma failed to show that Goodell acted with "actual malice" in making six reportedly libelous or slanderous statements between early March and early May of last year.

These statements came after the NFL determined that some Saints players, coaches and officials were involved in a program that awarded cash to players for knocking opponents out of games between 2009 and 2011.

Vilma's lawsuit was one of the last open issues arising from the team's so-called bounty scandal.

Jon Vilma's Defamation Lawsuit Against Roger Goodell Dismissed by FindLaw

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