Vick in Doghouse Again after More Lawsuits, Failed Drug Test
Since Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and three associates were charged by federal investigators for their involvement in a brutal dog fighting venture called "Bad Newz Kennels," not only has Vick's reputation been tarnished beyond repair, but further financial and legal troubles have been piling up like so much garbage.
The most serious of the problems involves charges on dog fighting at the state level. While the federal charges were focused on conspiracy, the state charges concern the dog fighting itself. A Surry County grand jury indicted Vick on September 25 for two class 6 felonies, beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dog fighting.
The state charges each carry a possible penalty of up to five years.
Despite their decision to indict Vick on these charges, the grand jury chose not to indict him and his two codefendants on eight additional charges related to the dog fighting. These charges would have carried with them prison time of up to 40 years.
Vick's criminal defense lawyers, however, have declared that they will fight the state indictment on the grounds that Vick cannot be convicted twice for the same crime. Prosecutors, on the other hand, argue that the difference between the federal and state charges is great enough to allow Vick to be convicted of both.
Michael Vick's Failed Drug Test for Marijuana May Affect Sentencing!
On September 13, 2007, Vick tested positive for marijuana during a random drug test taken as part of the conditions of his release. The positive test is a violation of the release conditions, and as a result, Vick has been ordered to remain at his home during nights, supervised by electronic monitoring.
Additionally, the judge who will be sentencing Vick on December 10, 2007 may consider the positive test when he hands down the sentence. At the guilty plea, Judge Henry Hudson gave Vick a warning that he would not tolerate any kind of trouble or misbehavior.
If Vick fails another drug test, he may find himself in the same boat as his codefendant Quanis Phillips, who tested positive after a first positive test with electronic monitoring, and was therefore jailed until his federal sentencing.
Michael Vick Finds Himself in Financial Trouble As Well!
On top of these legal troubles, Vick is also facing new financial issues. On September 20, Royal Bank of Canada filed a lawsuit against Vick for more than $2.3 million, trying to recover a real estate loan that they claim Vick has defaulted on as a result of his legal troubles. The lawsuit alleges that Vick missed a September 10 deadline to repay the loan, and that he provided to provide accurate financial statements.
And it gets worse.
On September 26, 1st Source Bank, based in South Bend, Indiana, filed a lawsuit to recover $2 million from Vick and Divine Seven LLC, an Atlanta car rental company that has Vick as its chief financial officer. Their federal suit claims that Vick and Divine Seven refused to pay for at least 130 vehicles that Vick signed loan agreements for.
In the 1st Source lawsuit, the bank has been able to repossess most of the cars, which will limit Vick and Divine Seven's liability in the lawsuit amount.
Add these financial woes to the companies that have pulled Vick from their product endorsement campaigns over the past few years-Coca-Cola, EA Sports, Kraft Foods, Hasbro and AirTran, to name a few-and it's going to be a hard future that Michael Vick faces, any way you look at it.
Keep reading Total Lawyers for more updates on the Michael Vick trial and sentencing, which will take place on December 10!
