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Boston attorney on Roethlisberger: ‘There is a history here that is just super troubling’

04.13.10 at 10:09 am ET
By

Boston attorney Harry Manion joined the Dennis & Callahan show Tuesday morning and said that he was recently involved in an investigation into an incident involving Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger that was similar to last month’s situation at a Georgia nightclub for which Roethlisberger faces a possible suspension from the NFL.

“Six months ago I was retained by a client of mine and a close friend to investigate allegations against Ben Roethlisberger in a Las Vegas nightclub that were absolutely identical to this Georgia girl’s story,” said Manion, a partner at the firm of Cooley Manion Jones, LLP and a frequent guest of WEEI. “The outcome was that the young woman did not want to proceed, and we did not take any action. There is a history here — and I can’t say any further because we never proceeded with it — but there is a history here that is just super troubling.”

The Georgia case marks the second time in a year that Roethlisberger has been accused of sexual misconduct. He also faces a lawsuit filed last year by a woman who says he raped her in 2008 at a Lake Tahoe hotel and casino, an allegation the quarterback denies. Roethlisberger has not been criminally charged in either case and has claimed counterdamages in the lawsuit.

Manion said this latest incident should be the wakeup call that finally gets Roethlisberger to clean up his act. “Unless he’s totally brain dead — and we don’t know — he would be scared,” Manion said. “Because he has really walked a perilous line here. There’s a whole litany here, not only my experience, I have connected with several other people that have experience. And you know, there’s only so far that he said/she said will get you. There’s only so far that paying hush money will get you, if hush money is paid. And there’s only so far that, ‘Gee, we’re celebrities, we have a target on our back,’ will get you. When you see this much smoke, month after month and continuously …”

Added Manion: “It’s the scene that he’s gotten himself caught up with, and the belief that he can walk, and so far, so good. But it’s hurting him. He’s hurt. He has been damaged. And the next one, the wrath of God’s going to come down on him, if there is a next one.”

Click here for a transcript of Manion’s comments. To hear the interview, click on the Dennis & Callahan audio on demand page.

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  • MrWookie

    Rapers gonna rape.

  • suezeq

    It is so typical with professional atheletes, too much money and too few brains. They see their income as a “stay out of jail” ticket. Too often it is. They don’t see themselves as the piece of meat they are owned by these team owners and management. As long as they can perform they make way too much money. Start sliding and they’re done. Eventually their horrible behavior will catch up to them. Where’s OJ today! As a season ticket holder of a major NFL team I am getting tired of financing the awful and questionable behavior of these athletes. Maybe if enough season ticket holder stopped purchasing their tickets the owners of these teams may become less willing to condone these types of behavior, such as Mr. Roethlisberger has been exhibiting.

  • nonfiction

    3 rapez, 2 rangz

  • Boris

    Nonfiction?

    Yup, he really earned that 1st “rang” with 26.5 QB rating, right?

  • Ben

    Piling on anyone? Striking while the iron is hot? Where was this “story” a month ago?

  • thorsif

    Now it’s da white man’s turn to be persecuted…I love it! (oh by the way I’m hispanic)

  • http://www.jockpost.com JOCKpost

    It’s amazing this story is not getting more pub than it is.

  • Michael Zhivago

    So some ambulance chaser makes accusations with no proof, (apparently), of what he is saying. How does this meet even the most minimal requirements of competent journalism? Unless…Of course! You are simply reporting a story about some sleazeball lawyer slandering the easy target in a public forum.

    This guy is a piece of work. Where was this brave man and his information prior to the Georgia D.A. making his decision on monday? Most likely this shyster is making this up or has so little to go on that when he did tell Mr. Bright, the D.A. laughed in his face. (Although he did thank Mr. Manion for his civic-mindedness.)

    The only thing ‘super-troubling’ here is that this guy is a lawyer and of course the fact that if he is a lawyer he used the phrase ‘super troubling.’

  • Dave

    Where’s the story. This is just another he said/she said thing accept really it’s he said/he said.

  • marvin lewis

    Harry Manion is a homosexual Queer ambulance chaser.

  • carol

    If he’s an attorney he had the obligation to report it to the Georgia people and no he didnt. I believe its an all made up thing now.

  • janine marche

    If Ben were black he’d have been thrown in prison by now with the key thrown away. This is a perfect example of white privilege. Lots of white males are jumping on Ben’s bandwagon like he’s some victim. Let him have done that to your little sister or daughter and I bet your opinions would change dramatically. He’s a spoiled athlete. Privileged. He feels he’s ‘entitled’. The mdeia is trying to ruin Tiger Woods for his adultery. Vicks went to prison for dog fights. Ben sexually assaults numerous young women and they’re all lying…he just needs to ‘grow up’, etc etc….
    Ben needs to be kicked out of the NFL and serve some time and at least get some help for his criminal sexual behavior. It is NOT okay.

  • Kelli

    I think Ben has a problem. He’s ruined his reputation. But, unlike Tiger, he’s not married, he’s not sleeping around with 15+ women while his wife and two kids are at home. Tiger portrayed a certain image..he established that image on his own. He didn’t take slack because he is black. He took slack because he has set himself to be something he obviously wasn’t. You’ve made Ben out to be guilty, but obviously, law enforcement has not been able to do that. Maybe you should go help them work out their case..you must have evidence/knowledge they’re not aware of. And as for Vick…he killed dogs on his property. He ran gambling rings. He acted in an extremely stupid manor. This is not about black or white. What about Ray Lewis? He should have gone to jail and didn’t. He killed a man…he didn’t serve a day. Dante Stalworth – 30 days in jail for hitting a man and killing him while drunk. So, don’t make this a race thing. Ben should not be putting himself in those situtions. He acts stupid. But DON’T cry race when there are plenty of guys – BLACK AND WHITE who should have gotten more and ended up getting off pretty easily or with nothing at all. Money works for both BLACK AND WHITE!!!

  • Denise Ritchie

    I think Ben is stupid and maybe needs to give up drinking and watch the women he hangs around with. Where was this attorney when the investigation was going on if it is “identical” to what happened in Georgia and was a “crime”? I think it was too much booze a lot of sex talk and this led to something more. I do not believe Ben raped anyone but he needs to punished for his poor behavior and if it happens again then gone from my beloved Steelers. Even the DA said he would tell Ben to grow up and not put himself in these positions. Does that sound like someone who believes there was a rape? I don’t think so.
    As for the Boston attorney, even if someone went to him is he allowed to talk about it on the air? Client priviledge or something. And again if he can talk about it on air why not talk about it to police? You notice he has shut up since and is trying to take it back by saying “I never said that Ben did anything illegal” What was he implying then?
    Let the NFL, the Rooney’s and Ben deal with it.

  • Brad

    Boris Says:
    April 13th, 2010 at 1:11 pm

    Nonfiction?

    Yup, he really earned that 1st “rang” with 26.5 QB rating, right?
    =========================
    Correction, he had a 22.6 QB rating…lowest in Super Bowl history by a winning quarterback

  • SteelerFan wishing Big Ben was married

    Somebody needs to teach this arshole how to buy a prostitute

  • JUNKMAN

    Ben as a profesional should know better than to be having sex in a bathroom at a club.He does not act like a 26 year old millionaire he acts more like a high school kid or a college student trying to find his way into man hood.I wonder if any of these writers are investergating his college years i am sure they could find some more idiotek behavior on him when he was in school.Although maybe he just started doing this stuff since he has fame and fortune and the state police as friends. I don’t think so!!!!!

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