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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jordan Jefferson can't shake his legal issues

 
Published May 9, 2012

Two days after signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a successful tryout in last weekend's rookie camp, Jordan Jefferson learned the alleged victims in the August bar fight in which Jefferson was charged with simple battery have filed a lawsuit against him and former LSU teammate Josh Johns. Also named in the suit are the owners of Shady's Bar.

The incident, for which Jefferson has not stood trial, occurred on Aug. 19 in Baton Rouge, La. Plaintiffs Eric M. Ewen, Jordan M. Wills, Cayne A. Cox and Andrew R. Lowery claim in the lawsuit that they were seriously injured and were attacked without provocation. Charges filed against Johns were later dropped. Jefferson, who pleaded innocent in February, has his next hearing on Thursday.

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the suit says Ewen sustained three fractured vertebra, a herniated disc, multiple fractured teeth, cuts and bruises to his head and face. Lowery, according to the suit, sustained a fractured maxilla bone, teeth, a bulging and/or herniated disc, multiple cuts and bruises to the head and face, and bruises to the rest of his body. Wills and Cox, according to the suit, received multiple cuts and bruises to the head and face.

Jefferson's attorney, Lewis Unglesby, called the suit a money grab.

"How coincidental the lawsuit gets filed right after Jordan signs a pro contract," Unglesby told the Times-Picayune. "We've said from Day One this was all about taking advantage of Jordan's success. We hope District Attorney (Hillar) Moore dismisses the criminal complaint based on Lowery's choice of the civil forum."