Logo-lifting
Federal judge upholds jury's verdict in Ravens logo lawsuit
Posted: Monday February 22, 1999 11:16 PM
BALTIMORE (AP) -- A federal judge has upheld a jury's verdict that the Baltimore Ravens copied
their logo design from a security guard, who sued the NFL franchise for $10
million.
In an opinion dated Feb. 19, U.S. District Judge Marvin Garbis denied the
team's request for a new trial, saying the jury's verdict last November was
"supported by adequate evidence."
He also rejected defense lawyers' suggestion that one juror was coerced by
a deadlocked panel into deciding in favor of security guard Frederick
Bouchat.
The Ravens contend the design was created by league artists at NFL
Properties in New York without any input from Bouchat. The Ravens' logo
features outspread raven wings flanking a shield bearing the letter "B."
Bouchat, a former security guard, claims that while working at the
Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation in downtown Baltimore, he
decorated a Cleveland Browns helmet with a logo he designed shortly after
state officials lured the Browns to Baltimore in November 1995. He says he
placed the helmet on his desk in the building's lobby.
The Ravens said they will appeal the verdict.
"It hurts to be called dishonest by the court system, and that's basically
what's happened so far," Ravens spokesman Kevin Byrne said Monday.
"We hope to prove our integrity down the line."
The team's lawyer, John Paul Reiner, and NFL officials could not be reached
for comment Monday.
Bouchat declined to comment on the ruling, referring the matter to his
attorneys. But the judge's decision bolstered Bouchat's claim, said his
lawyer, Howard Schulman.
"We're confident that the verdict will hold up," Schulman said.
The amount Bouchat will receive will be determined at a later hearing
before another federal jury.
In a separate motion, the judge opened the way for Bouchat's lawyers to
investigate a Ravens' employee's claim the team had Bouchat's design at
their headquarters.
Since the Ravens will likely appeal, Garbis wrote "it cannot be said that
any further evidence relating to the Ravens' access (to the logo design)
is, necessarily, moot."
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