Report: AAF likely to face lawsuits over wages, expenses
The cancellation of the 2019 season may not be the end of matters for the AAF.
The startup football league is likely to face lawsuits from employees over lost wages and other expenses, according to NFL Draft Diamonds.
I talked with a close source tonight who told me several attorney’s are lining up to sue the AAF and Tom Dundon to get their contracts paid as well as other expenses https://t.co/lPP0kVxGdS
— NFL Draft Diamonds (@DraftDiamonds) April 4, 2019
The league on Tuesday announced the cancellation of the remainder of the inaugural season even though two weeks remained in the regular season and the postseason had yet to be played. The pay scale for players followed a three-year plan calling for $70,000 in their first season, $80,000 in the second and $100,000 in the third. It’s unclear what monies were guaranteed. The league cancelling things now means players and potentially other employees may not be receiving pay for the final fifth of the season (they were planning a 10-game schedule).
Players had been kicked out of their lodging arrangements and were forced to pay for their own flights home.
More on the #AAF collapse:
+Players in Memphis came back to their hotels after news came down, and had their personal items waiting in the lobby. Kicked out of their lodgings.
+Amount of money owed to vendors, venues, etc. in San Antonio for training camp is over $4 Million
— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) April 4, 2019
+Team level staff members were asked to stay behind in markets to clean out office spaces (without pay)… and handle “refunds” …no clarity who will be receiving those refunds.
This is a complete mess…
— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) April 4, 2019
When Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon came in and bought a majority ownership stake in the league, he was viewed as the lifeline the league needed to meet expenses. Having him shutter things so quickly after taking over is nothing short of a surprise.