Damon Arnette of Las Vegas Raiders facing separate lawsuits over alleged hit-run, valet dispute: reports
A woman claims she suffered multiple injuries resulting in more than $92,000 in medical bills after the NFL player allegedly crashed into her SUV in 2020
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Henry Ruggs, a wide receiver who was recently let go by the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders following his alleged involvement in a deadly auto crash, is not the only player linked to the team who is dealing with repercussions of alleged actions as a driver.
Cornerback Damon Arnette is facing a lawsuit claiming he was involved in a hit-and-run crash in Nevada a little more than a year ago, according to reports.
The lawsuit, filed Oct. 5 of this year, claims Arnette crashed into a woman’s vehicle around 7:30 a.m. nearly a year earlier, on Oct. 14, 2020, FOX 5 of Las Vegas reported.
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‘We're aware of it’
"We’re aware of it, and certainly we’re aware of it today," Raiders coach Rich Bisaccia said Friday, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "I think it’s been pushed towards his lawyers and his attorneys and their team of people to handle that. I don’t think we can actually comment on it any further than that."
HENRY RUGGS CRASH: VIDEO SHOWS FORMER RAIDERS WR SOBBING AT SCENE
Arnette was allegedly driving in excess of 65 mph in order to attend an early-morning meeting at the Raiders’ team headquarters, the court filing states, according to the station.
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Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette (20) is seen during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium near Las Vegas, in November 2020. (USA Today Sports)
The crash occurred after Arnette made a hard turn at a high speed, resulting in the crash, the lawsuit claims. The pro cornerback then "illegally left the scene of the crash," the court papers allege.
The filing also alleges that a friend of Arnette’s later claimed to have been behind the wheel.
Richard Schonfeld, a lawyer representing Arnette, disputed the claims, noting his client told TMZ he was looking forward to addressing the allegations in court, the newspaper reported.
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Arnette pleaded guilty in Henderson to failure to stop at a crash scene and improper lane change, both misdemeanors, and paid $1,140 in fines, according to the newspaper.
The woman, identified by the Review-Journal as Yaneth Coromoto Casique, suffered multiple injuries and accumulated more than $92,000 in medical bills.
The lawsuit is seeking compensation for those bills plus $15,000 in general damages as well as legal fees, lost income and damage to property, FOX 5 reported.
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The lawsuit, filed in Clark County (Nevada) District Court, also names the Raiders as a defendant, the Review-Journal reported.
Separate lawsuit
Arnette is also involved in a separate legal matter. A valet worker at the Aria Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas claims in a June filing that Arnette berated him, spat on him and poked him in the chest after the employee refused to retrieve Arnette’s vehicle because the NFL player did not have a valet receipt.
Arnette’s girlfriend eventually found the receipt in the couple’s hotel room, the Review-Journal reported.
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Schonfeld told the Review-Journal he filed a counter-claim, arguing that the lawsuit was frivolous.
The valet employee is seeking $500,000, according to the report.
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Arnette’s former teammate, Ruggs, was released from the Raiders after allegedly driving drunk at more than 150 mph and crashing his vehicle into an SUV, killing a 23-year-old woman.
Ruggs has since been freed from jail, awaiting further legal action, after posting bond, surrendering his passport and being ordered not to use alcohol or drugs, the Review-Journal reported.