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Brett Favre’s legal team is seeking to revive a defamation lawsuit he filed against Shannon Sharpe, a fellow member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in light of a Mississippi welfare scandal.
The lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge in Mississippi in October, who ruled that Sharpe’s criticism of Favre’s involvement in the welfare misspending case was protected under the First Amendment.
Favre’s lawyer, Amit Vora, argued before a New Orleans appeals court that the lawsuit should be reinstated, claiming that Sharpe falsely accused Favre of theft without any criminal charges brought against him.
During a September 2022 broadcast of Fox Sports’ Skip and Shannon: Undisputed, Sharpe made statements suggesting Favre had taken money meant for the less fortunate, which Vora deemed as defamatory.
Sharpe’s attorney, Joseph Terry, defended his client’s remarks as opinions given in response to news about the welfare scandal and its impact on Favre’s reputation.
The court has not indicated when a ruling will be made on the matter.
The welfare scandal in Mississippi involved millions of dollars misused from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, including improper payments to Favre for speaking engagements.
Favre has returned the money he received and denies any criminal wrongdoing, but the state auditor claims he still owes additional funds due to interest.
Despite the legal challenges, Favre maintains his innocence and is one of many individuals and entities facing lawsuits from the Department of Human Services in Mississippi.
Judge Keith Starrett’s ruling in October concluded that Sharpe’s remarks were protected as exaggerated expressions of opinion rather than factual accusations of criminal behavior.
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