Ex-Tennessee wide receiver David Givens has filed a lawsuit seeking $25 million from the Titans, alleging the team withheld information from him that could have prevented his career-ending knee injury.According to the lawsuit, Givens was examined by an orthopedic surgeon prior to signing a five-year, $24 million contract with Tennessee in 2006. The lawsuit claims that the doctor who performed that physical, Tomas Byrd, concluded that Givens had a defect in his left leg and that it was unlikely that Givens could play an entire season without corrective surgery.
Givens' suit claims that he was not made aware of the diagnosis -- in November of 2006, Givens suffered a catastrophic knee injury while planting to make a cut, and has not played since.
"His knee just exploded on him. He's had multiple surgeries, and it can't be fixed so that he can play football again," Givens' attorney, Dan Warlick, told News Channel 5 in Tennessee.
Givens, now 29 and living in Massachusetts, was a seventh-round pick out of Notre Dame by New England in the 2002 draft. He won two Super Bowl titles with the Patriots -- XXXVIII and XXXIX -- catching TD passes in the AFC Championship and Super Bowl in the 2003 season, then in every New England playoff game in 2004.
Givens caught 158 balls for 2,214 yards during four regular-season campaigns in New England. When his rookie contract expired after a 59-catch 2005 season, Givens hit the free-agent market as a coveted commodity. Tennessee rewarded him with the $24 million deal that included a $6 million signing bonus. Givens played just five games with the Titans, though, and was released on Feb. 27, 2008.
"This issue is not about money -- it's emotional and physical, and the idea that his career was cut short," Brad Blank, Givens' agent during his playing days, told The Tennessean. "The issue is what could have been done better, and was there some kind of malpractice or negligence.
"His knee looks awful."
Comments (Page 1 of 3)
I luv it when lawyers say its not about money; if it wasnt the lawyer wouldn't be there! He has to prove that it could've been prevented had he known, and then been coreected and able to play and earn that money. Tough to do, probably get a settlement
Givens is just out to grab as much dough as possible and is bitter that he cant play any longer. The Titans dont owe him a thing and I hope he is forced to cover their legal expenses when he loses his suit!
The agent said it's not about money, not the lawyer.
That's sad, they probably didn't want to pay him even though they knew his knee was in bad shape, the NFL is the richest sport going and that's just a drop in the bucket for one team, it's not a sport anymore, it's for billionaires to get richer and the other 99% making them rich.
you must be very rich by football players standards to think they aren't more then well compensated for what they do-or are you one of those nobama people who just hate people who work hard for what they have-everyone in football for that matter all sports make out real well compared to average folk=and good for them
Wouldn't he be barred from such a lawsuit under worker's comp laws? The examining doctor was not his treating doctor and would probably owe no duty to disclose his opinion. With all that signing bonus money, why didn't he merely retain his own physician to advise him on his health...his most important asset?
DAVID WAS A CLASS GUY AND GREAT TALENT WHEN HE PLAYED FOR NEW ENGLAND. TOO BAD TO SEE SUCH A CAREER GET CUT SHORT. I WOULD SAY HE WOULD DESERVE WHATEVER HE ENDS UP WITH. GLAD TO SEE HE LIVES IN NEW ENGLAND.
What's the problem, doesn't he have a Degree from Notre Dame? Didn't he ever hear of having a back-up plan in case Football doesn't work out? It's the oldest piece of advice in sports. The only people being screwed here are the kids who really could have used a college education but had to make room for an athlete who didn't think he was going to even need one. Screw him and the NFL.
NEVER COULD MAKE THE TEAM HUH
not about$$$$$$$???? WTF ?
I knew an attorney who ended up being disbarred for shady dealings with estates. He did say one true thing though. He said, when the principal of a situation is more important than the money....., IT'S THE MONEY. IT'S ALWAYS THE MONEY!!!
Surely it's not about the money tell me for it's not about the money!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why would the Titans cover up his knee defect, then sign him to a $24 million dollar contract???? Does this lawyer read his own lawsuits....
Okay....lets think for a sec.....if they had told him about the issue with the knee than dont you think he would have pursued looking into it with another doctor... I mean .. it was his knee .. this is how he makes his money... if he knew he would have taken care of it... that should be obvious to anyone...
jandjhoye....You are absolutely correct. David is a remarkable young man. Nobody knows the truth except David and the Titans. However, I feel the Titans will be $30M poorer, and I hope soon.
If it's not about the money why sue for $25 mil. Why not 1 mill.
you people sound bitter.even when you can see wrongdoing, your bitterness still helps you make agnry remarks. this guys career was cut short nd they knew he had a defective knee
"Givens' suit claims that he was not made aware of the diagnosis"
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If true, he has a case.
Someone asked: "Wouldn't he be barred from such a lawsuit under worker's comp laws?"
In TN, if there is a purposeful misrepresentation perpetuated by the employer or at the employer's direction, the exclusive rememdy under the workers comp statutes doesn't apply. It is a fairly high burden of proof to prove all of that.
I had ONE client who, I feel, was motivated by "principal" and not by money. How do I know? I worked two long years to get the case in a winning posture and then she met with the defendant and reached the settlement where the defendant, in essence, apologized. Because we are bound by our client's wishes, we settled the damned case for $800. She got really angry when I sent her the bill for the depositions, discovery expeneses, etc. and that was a little over $4,000. She refused to pay...bankrupted the obligation and I had to pay the money. But to you lawyer bashers...never fear, I got my 1/3 of that $800. NEVER TRUST A CLIENT WHO SAYS "IT'S NOT THE MONEY...." I routinely tell 'em to go away because I can't pay my rent and phone bill with "principal"