DETROIT (Legal Newsline) – The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) is facing a suit filed by a certified contract adviser who represented NFL players such as Frank Clark, Kyle Nelson and Devon Kennard over allegations of harassment and interference with his business interests.
Vincent Porter filed a complaint Nov. 13 in Michigan's Wayne County Circuit Court against the NFLPA alleging tortious interference with business expectancy and a business relationship, negligence and breach of duty.
Porter alleges he began working as a certified contract adviser licensed by the NFLPA in 2007. In October 2014, Porter was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud but reached a deferred prosecution agreement that resulted in dismissal of the charges, according to his suit.
Porter alleges that despite the dismissal of his criminal charges, the NFLPA "has continued to punish, harass, and interfere" with his business, including using social media to "publicize" his "inappropriate suspension" and "ridicule" him. Porter also alleges the NFLPA threatened to not renew his NFLPA licensed contract causing him to lose a client.
Porter also claims that the defendant did not use social media to acknowledge that his suspension was reversed and expunged by an arbitrator.
Porter seeks monetary relief of more than $25,000, interest and all other equitable relief. He is represented by attorneys Gerald Evelyn and Robert Higbee in Detroit.
The case was removed by the defendant Dec. 11 to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan case number 5:19-CV-13651-JEL-RSW