Hall-of-Famer Brett Favre’s Defamation Lawsuit Against Hall-of-Famer Shannon Sharpe Thrown Out
From yesterday’s Fifth Circuit decision in Favre v. Sharpe, by Judge Leslie Southwick, joined by Judge Kyle Duncan and Judge Jeremy Kernodle (E.D. Tex.):
Brett Favre … was named three times as the NFL’s Most Valuable Player, had a Super Bowl victory, and was selected for the NFL Hall of Fame. Much more recently, his public image has been somewhat tarnished by his connection to individuals who were convicted for the misuse of government welfare funds and his alleged receipt of some of those funds….
In October 2021, the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office determined more than $77 million in federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (“TANF”) funds intended to help impoverished Mississippians were used for illegal purposes across the state. To date, six individuals have pled guilty to state and federal felony charges related to their involvement in this scandal. Favre has not been criminally charged. Mississippi’s Department of Human Services (“MDHS”) filed a civil suit in May 2022 against Favre and numerous persons, seeking to recover TANF funds that were unlawfully diverted between 2016 and 2019.
MDHS initially sought to recover $1.1 million in TANF funds Favre received from the non-profit Mississippi Community Education Center, Inc. (“MCEC”) in 2017 and 2018 for speaking engagements that he never performed. Favre had repaid the funds prior to MDHS’s suit. MDHS amended its complaint to recover $5 million in TANF funds Favre allegedly arranged to be used to fund the construction of a new USM volleyball facility. According to MDHS, Favre was unable to encourage sufficient donations for the facility’s construction, so he turned to the non-profit MCEC to help secure the $5 million in funding. TANF funds were ultimately used on the project.
Local and national news outlets con
Article from Latest
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.