Vick sued by woman who claims he gave her herpes

Thursday, April 7, 2005 | 9:04 a.m.

SUN WIRE SERVICES

Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is being sued by a woman claiming to be his former girlfriend.

In the civil lawsuit, Sonya Elliott, 26, alleges Vick knowingly gave her genital herpes following an encounter in April 2003.

The complaint was filed March 14 in Gwinnett County State Court. Elliott seeks damages alleging Vick's negligence, unwanted physical contact, pain, suffering and potential future medical complications, according to the suit.

Several attempts to reach Vick were unsuccessful. The Pro Bowl selection's Virginia Beach-based attorney, Lawrence Woodward, and his South Florida-based agent, Joel Segal, did not return phone messages. The Falcons issued a statement through spokesman Reggie Roberts.

"We are aware of the lawsuit recently filed against Michael Vick," the statement read. "Because this is a personal matter involving potential litigation, it is not appropriate for us to comment about it and we have been advised that all questions should be directed to Michael's attorney. Michael has proven himself to be a great teammate on the field and a strong supporter of our community. We hope that this matter will be resolved in a fair and expeditious manner."

Vick's attorney has until May 6 to respond to the complaint, at which time a motion for discovery will be filed. That evidence-gathering period typically lasts six months or more in this type of case, said Cale Conley, Elliott's attorney. A trial date could be set shortly thereafter.

Elliott claims in the suit she met Vick in Virginia Beach in 2001 -- both lived in the area -- and had an off-and-on relationship with him before and after she moved to the Atlanta area in 2002.

She took legal action after Vick, 24, refused to help her deal with the symptoms she alleges he infected her with, Conley said.

"She doesn't have anything to hide," Conley said of Elliott, a health worker who specializes in geriatric care. "She's a college graduate and presentable young lady who just had a life-changing event happen. She has to live with the medical costs and stigma of it. I hope it doesn't get lost. Whether it's Michael Vick or Tom Smith, the case is about a young lady's life that's been turned upside down."

"It could be from a sex partner 10 years ago and not from your most recent partner," said Mike Herndon, supervisor of the National Herpes Hotline, which is run by the American Social Health Association. "Most people who are diagnosed with herpes assume it is from their most recent partner, but they could have been infected years ago. If you do have a severe outbreak, however, it probably means that you were infected during the past month or so."

Tagliabue, speaking at a news conference today in Minneapolis, said an investigation by NFL security personnel found evidence that Tice scalped some of the 12 Super Bowl tickets he received last season as Vikings' coach.

The NFL will take disciplinary action against Tice "soon," Tagliabue said, adding that Tice will probably face fines and not a suspension.

Philadelphia's All-Pro receiver recently hired Drew Rosenhaus to replace his longtime agent, David Joseph. Rosenhaus met with Eagles president Joe Banner, presumably to discuss his client's contract.

Owens, who helped lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl in his first season in Philadelphia, signed a seven-year deal worth almost $49 million last March.

"I had a brief meeting this afternoon with Drew Rosenhaus," Banner said in a statement. "We discussed his new representation of Terrell, as he does often with teams of new clients. We are not prepared, at this time, to discuss any other details of the conversation."

Rolle also will make a $10,000 donation to help battered women or children under a pretrial diversion agreement reached in Williamson County General Sessions Court. If he completes the counseling and finishes his probation of 11 months, 29 days without incident, the charge will be expunged from his record.

He was arrested on the misdemeanor charge after his wife, Danisha, was treated for a cut over her left eye at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. Hospital officials called authorities. Rolle could have faced up to a year in jail if convicted.