PRINCETON: Local attorney considers options in Spygate case

By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
   Even though the Supreme Court of the United States has turned down his request to review a decision by the Third Circuit Court Appeals, Princeton attorney Carl Mayer is still examining his options and hearing from New Yorks Jets fans who are still mad that the New England Patriots illegally videotaped play signals several years ago.
   Mr. Mayer believes fans, like himself, are entitled to a refund for those particular games because the games were not played by National Football League (NFL) rules, which is a violation of the fans’ contract and the New Jersey consumer protection laws.
   This was a violation of consumer protection, he says, because the Patriots and Bill Belichick, the coach, misrepresented that they were playing according to the rules.
   The scandal became known as “Spygate.”
   During a Jets-Patriots game, the Patriots were illegally videotaping the signals of the Jets.
   ”If you know what the opposition is doing in advance, it’s impossible,” said Mr. Mayer. “The games are expensive for the fans and they pay to watch a game played by the NFL rules, not a rigged game.”
   The NFL found the Patriots were illegally videotaping the Jets signals and fined them $250,000 for the conduct, and Mr. Belichick was fined $500,00 among other punishments, said Mr. Mayer.
   ”This is probably the greatest cover-up in the history of sports,” said Mr. Mayor. “Fans are tired of all the cheating that goes on in public sports.”
   Mr. Mayer has been fighting for the fans’ rights in this case since September 2007. He was seeking damages going back to 2000, when Mr. Belichick became the head coach for the Patriots.
   ”We’re reviewing whether we’ll take further action,” said Mr. Mayer. “The complaint was dismissed without prejudice, so we can add other counts and causes of action that were not in the original complaint.”