Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin and hotel chain Marriott International continue their legal battle following an incident during Super Bowl week in Phoenix.
Marriott previously filed a motion asking a federal judge to dismiss Irvin’s $100 million defamation lawsuit and Tuesday asked a judge to deny Irvin’s request for expedited release of hotel video footage.
On Wednesday, a district judge ordered Marriott to produce the items and documents sought in Irvin’s request no later than Tuesday at 5 p.m.
“Marriott’s limited participation in court-ordered discovery does not demonstrate its intent to litigate the underlying merits of the case in this Court,” court documents obtained by USA TODAY Sports said. “Nor is there any risk that expedited discovery will cause wasted effort here because the footage and documents sought by Plaintiff will undoubtedly be discoverable and highly relevant irrespective of whether this case is litigated in this Court, in the District of Arizona, or elsewhere.”
Marriott had argued that Irvin’s urgency isn’t legitimate and he is “litigating in the court of public opinion in an effort to convince the NFL to let him cover the NFL Combine” this week in Indianapolis.
“Plaintiff hopes to obtain the footage so that he can fashion a narrative, feed his propaganda machine, and improperly invite potential jurors to prejudge this matter in his favor,” Marriott said in court documents obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
“The assertion is smoke without fire.”
Why is Michael Irvin suing Marriott for defamation?
Irvin allegedly made “harassing and inappropriate” comments to a hotel worker on Feb. 5, according to The Athletic. NFL Network and ESPN pulled Irvin from Super Bowl coverage shortly after it was reported.
Irvin filed his lawsuit against the hotel chain Feb. 9, and Feb. 22 filed a motion to expedite the release of video footage. The case was moved from the District Court in Collin County, Texas, where Irvin resides, to the United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas in Sherman, Texas.
Irvin’s lawyer, Levi McCathern, had said previously that Marriott is doing everything to avoid responsibility.
Marriott argued in its request to dismiss the case, which is still pending, “lack of personal jurisdiction” and said it does not own the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel, where Irvin and the hotel staffer interacted.
The company says it “leases its brand” to the owner of the property. In the same filing, Marriott requested transferring the case to the United States District Court in Arizona “for the convenience of the parties and witnesses and in the interest of justice” if it is not dismissed.