In the hands of the court
Tyson's psychological records could be released Monday
Posted: Saturday October 10, 1998 02:18 PM
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Tyson and his lawyers attempted to have the records blocked from the public beacause of possible embarassing information AP |
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Mike Tyson's psychological records should be in the hands of Nevada boxing commissioners on Monday. Whether the public will see them, though, remains in the hands of the state Supreme Court.
The court will rule at midday Monday on whether to limit the release of Tyson's records strictly to members of the Nevada Athletic Commission -- just hours before the deadline set by the commission to receive the reports.
Even if the court rules against Tyson, however, his advisers have said they will submit the reports to the commission by the deadline. If that happens, they would be released to the public.
"It appears everything will be coming to a head at one time," said Tyson lawyer Jim Jimmerson.
The commission has set a 5 p.m. Monday deadline for the reports if Tyson wants to keep an October 19 hearing at which he will ask once again to get back the boxing license stripped from him for biting Evander Holyfield's ears.
Because the Oct. 19 hearing date is so important to Tyson's advisers -- who hope to get him fighting before the end of the year -- they have said they will submit the reports by the deadline no matter what the Supreme Court rules.
"My understanding is I'll have the stuff Monday," said Marc Ratner, executive director of the commission.
Tyson's attorneys petitioned the Supreme Court earlier this week for an emergency stay of a lower court's ruling that reports from a team of psychiatrists who examined Tyson over a five-day period last month at Massachusetts General Hospital be made public.
Those close to Tyson say his wife, Monica, is the driving force behind the attempt to block the release of the records, which could reveal some embarrassing things about the boxer.
A more pressing issue facing Tyson, though, figures to be the misdemeanor assault charges filed against him in Maryland, where attorneys for Tyson and two men are in negotiations in an effort to settle the case.
Tyson is scheduled to go on trial on the charges on the same day as the commission hearing, and his advisers said there has been some progress in seeking a settlement that could cause the charges to be dropped.
Prosecutors in Montgomery County, Md., said Thursday the trial date is still on, however, despite the efforts to settle the civil portion of the case.
The October 19 hearing is crucial to Tyson because the former heavyweight champion is in financial trouble and wants to begin his comeback with a December fight in Las Vegas that could earn him enough money to pay off a $13 million IRS lien against him.
If Tyson's relicensing is delayed even further, there would not be enough time to put together a comeback fight by the end of the year.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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