Report: Chris Kluwe's lawyer, Vikings hold settlement talks
In July, after announcing he planned to sue the Minnesota Vikings for $10 million, former punter Chris Kluwedelayed the lawsuit so the two sides could resume settlement talks. Those talks began on Wednesday, when the Vikings met with Kluwe's lawyer Clayton Halunen to discuss a possible settlement, Halunen confirmed to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The sides will meet again Aug. 14.
In January, Kluwe published an essay on Deadspin titled "I was an NFL Player Until I was Fired by Two Cowards and A Bigot." In the essay, he alleged that he was released from the team for his public support of marriage equality, and that special teams coach Mike Priefer made homophobic remarks in Kluwe's presence.
The Vikings launched an investigation into Kluwe allegations, which ultimately concluded that he had been released for football reasons. However, Priefer was suspended for three games following the release of the investigation.
After the Vikings released what Halunen called a "scrubbed" version of the investigation, Kluwe announced his intention to sue the organization to make the report public, and for $10 million in damages. He tweeted that any money won in the suit would be donated to LGBTQ charities. After he announced his intention to sue, Kluwe unloaded on the Vikings on Twitter, referencing, among other things a time when "two very well known Vikings players were caught in a compromising situation with an underage girl."
Kluwe also launched a Change.org petition urging the Vikings to release the full report. The petition has nearly 41,000 signatures.
The Vikings have hired Ted Wells, the attorney who investigated the Miami Dolphins bullying scandal involving Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin, to help with the settlement talks.
- Alex Hampl
