The NFL is reportedly suing the North Carolina Attorney General and the Mecklenburg County District Attorney over the Greg Hardy domestic violence case.
The lawsuit was filed at the same time that Hardy was negotiating a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys. The NFL reportedly wants their hands on the evidence from Hardy’s domestic violence trial.
According to the lawsuit, the NFL says it is legally allowed to examine the exhibits that were admitted into evidence against Hardy in the trial. His then-girlfriend, Nicole Holder, had accused Hardy of attacking her and threatening to kill her after a night out in Charlotte.
During a bench trial in 2014, Hardy was found guilty in the case and immediately appealed the decision and asked for a jury trial.
The second trial was slated to begin on February 9, but the state asked for the charges to be dismissed after Holder didn’t make herself available for the trial. She was not able to be located in order to serve, court officials said.
After the charges were dismissed, the NFL filed a motion to have the evidence in the first trial unsealed so that it could make a decision on Hardy’s future with the league.
That evidence ended up in the hands of the district attorney’s office and Hardy’s attorney, Chris Fialko, on Feb. 11, two days after the charges were dismissed against Hardy.
The lawsuit says Hardy is the subject of disciplinary action by the league. Attorneys say they demanded access to the evidence again on March 11.
“Mr. Murray has refused Plaintiff access to the requested exhibits and refused to mediate the dispute,” the lawsuit claims. “All legal proceedings against Mr. Hardy have concluded, therefore, the exhibits admitted in evidence and held by the District Attorney are no longer trial preparation materials.”
Greg Hardy isn’t going to get off without a punishment — the league is just taking the first steps to making an example of him.