Romanowski settles ex-teammate's lawsuit for $415,000

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 5/27/5 | Janine DeFao

[SmithL]

Former Oakland Raiders linebacker Bill Romanowski will pay $415,000 to ex-teammate Marcus Williams, whom he punched in the face during a practice, attorneys said Friday.

An Alameda County jury ruled in March that Romanowski, 38, should pay Williams $340,000 in lost wages and medical expenses for the incident two years ago.

But Williams, who had sought millions of dollars in damages, was seeking a new trial — despite announcing after the verdict the case was not about money but proving what was right and wrong in football.

“We’re delighted to have settled the case,” said Romanowski attorney Jeffrey Springer of Denver. “Bill just wanted to get it resolved. This allows him to move on to all the exciting things he’s doing.”

[SmithL]

Now he can turn his affections on non-football players.

[CO Gal]

I used to love watching him play when he was a Bronco, but when the prescription drug thing came out and THEN when he had his wife take the fall for him, I lost all respect.

Not that I'm a purist, but the spoiled attitude of athletes have turned me off to watching them.

[ambrose]

From the article:

Williams’ lead attorney, James Brosnahan of San Francisco, said Friday that he and his client are pleased to have reached a settlement that is higher than the jury’s award.

“We think the case does stand for something, which is sports and violence,” Brosnahan said, adding that he thinks the verdict and settlement will send a message to former and current players — and will hit Romanowski in the pocketbook.

“I believe the impact will be that he and others will refrain from that kind of behavior in the future,” Brosnahan said

LOL. 400k is chump change for big name athletes.

[Voir Dire]

Either something went awry during the damages phase of the trial, or the defense lawyer did a great job of damage control.