Much of the dialogue concerning the National Football League these days has to do with the lockout, and whether the owners and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) will be able to reach an agreement that prevents the cancellation of the upcoming season. However, there are other aspects of the current NFL lockout that bear closer inspection, including its impact on the personal obligations of players such as child support.
Consider the case of NFL star wide receiver Terrell Owens, who is currently being sued by the mother of his child for back child support.
According to court documents filed late last month by Melanie Paige Smith, Owens “has failed and refused to pay the full amount of child support ($5,000) for June 2011” and had his financial advisors simply inform her that he no longer wants to pay the full amount owed.
“Rather than discussing his situation with her or her lawyers first, [Owens] simply cut his child support,” reads the court documents seeking to hold Owens in contempt. “[Melanie Paige Smith] simply asks that [Owens] follow the order to which he agreed.”
Randall Kessler, Paige-Smith’s attorney, indicated that his client is looking to recover the aforementioned back child support, as well as court costs and attorney fees.
Owens, who is still recovering from a recent knee surgery, can sign with a new team thanks to his free agent status. However, he is prohibited from taking any action – including signing or even talking with a new team – until the lockout is resolved.
It remained unclear whether Owens’ child support arrears could be attributed to financial issues caused by the labor strike.
Owens has played for multiple teams since entering the NFL in 1996, including the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals.
Stay tuned for more from our Ft. Worth family law blog …
To learn more about child support or post-divorce issues, contact an experienced and skilled legal professional.
This post is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.
Related Resources:
Woman says Owens fails to pay some child support (Google News)
