$10 Million Wrongful Death Suit Filed Against Ray Lewis

ByABC News
February 26, 2001, 10:49 PM

Feb. 27 -- A $10 million wrongful death lawsuit filed Monday claims Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and four others wereresponsible for the slaying of one of two men stabbed outside anAtlanta nightclub 13 months ago.

The suit, filed in Fulton County State Court on behalf of the1-year-old daughter of stabbing victim Richard Lollar, also namesformer Lewis companions Joseph Sweeting and Reginald Oakley, whowere acquitted of murder charges in the deaths of Lollar andJacinth Baker.

Lewis was charged with murder after the fatal Jan. 31 streetfight that erupted after a post-Super Bowl party. However, thecharge was dropped during a four-week trial last spring. Lewispleaded guilty to misdemeanor obstruction of justice and testifiedagainst Oakley and Sweeting.

Relatives Bitter About Outcome of Trial

No one else has been charged in the stabbing deaths. Relativesof the stabbing victims have expressed bitterness at the outcome ofthe trial. Lewis was fined $250,000 by the NFL but went on tobecome the league's Defensive Player of the Year and MVP of thisyear's Super Bowl, won by Baltimore.

"I think that once we pull it together, and if we're successfulin this pursuit, then at least it will represent a form of justicefor family members," Michael Weinstock, one of the plaintiff'slawyers, told WSB-TV.

Another lawyer, John Wilson, said Lollar "was murdered, andwhoever did that has not been held accountable, and we hope thatwill be the result of this lawsuit."

Also named as defendants were Kwame King and Carlos StaffordJr., who were part of Lewis' entourage that night but were notcharged in the killings.

Lewis' personal lawyer, Ron Cherry, said he had not seen thesuit but that the facts do not support any allegations of wrongfuldeath or negigence against Lewis.

David Wolfe, who represented Oakley during the trial, said therewas a directed verdict of acquittal of Oakley in regard to Lollar'sdeath before the jury verdict that acquitted him of Baker's death.