Brett Favre’s lawyers file motion to dismiss lawsuit in Mississippi welfare scandal

Brett Favre’s lawyers file motion to dismiss lawsuit in Mississippi welfare scandal

Brett Favre’s attorneys filed a motion Monday to dismiss a complaint against the former NFL quarterback and his Favre Enterprise business with the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

Favre has been embroiled in the Mississippi welfare scandal and is one of more than three dozen companies being sued by the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) in an attempt to recover $24 million of the $ $77 million in federal welfare money, according to Mississippi. This day.

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre #4 attempts a pass against the New York Giants October 3, 2004 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Favre, who helped raise money for the volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi, denied knowing that a $5 million grant for the volleyball facility came from a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) welfare fund to through the Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC), a non-profit organization operated by Nancy New.

“Today, after a thorough investigation, we are filing a motion to dismiss the complaint against Mr. Favre. The MDHS lawsuit is nothing more than a baseless attempt to blame Brett Favre for his own inability to oversee welfare funds. deposited in his trust,” Favre said. attorney Eric Herschman said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital.

“Mr. Favre never had any control over how Mississippi spent its welfare funds. He never made false statements to anyone. As the State Auditor acknowledged, Mr. Favre never knew welfare funds were involved in the first place. Once he found out, he returned all the funds he received, six months before MDHS filed its lawsuit. As the State Auditor has also acknowledged, Mr. Favre’s conduct deserves applause, not a frivolous lawsuit. We believe that after Before the Court reviews our motion, this case will be settled. I’ll be fired.”

Monday’s motion was filed in the Hinds County circuit court in the state’s 1st judicial district.

The motion held that the Hall of Fame quarterback “did nothing wrong.”

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre heads to the sideline after throwing an intercepted pass by Chicago Bears' Julius Peppers during the first quarter of their NFC, NFL football game at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis , on December 20, 2010.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre heads to the sideline after throwing an intercepted pass by Chicago Bears’ Julius Peppers during the first quarter of their NFC, NFL football game at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis , on December 20, 2010.
(REUTERS/Eric Miller)

“There is no factual or legal basis for including Favre in this lawsuit or for the torrent of unwarranted negative publicity about Favre that MDHS has outrageously instigated, publicity that should properly be directed at MDHS, not Favre,” the motion reads.

Favre has returned the $1.1 million he received for fees from the Mississippi Community Education Center, a nonprofit group that spent TANF money with the approval of the Department of Human Services, but Mississippi State Auditor Shad White, insisted that Favre owed $228,000 in interest.

The State Auditor’s Office has maintained that Favre failed to uphold the terms of a contract he signed.

Favre has not been criminally charged in the case.

Prevacus Inc., a concussion prevention and treatment company in which Favre is an investor, received $2.1 million from the Mississippi Community Education Center. The motion says Favre “had no responsibility” for the alleged dealings between the nonprofit and the company.

“As to the $2.1 million payment, Section 27(1) allows MDHS to recover only from a ‘recipient’ of an improper payment. The Lawsuit alleges that Prevacus was the recipient of the payment, and MDHS’s claim to recover it from Favre must also be dismissed,” the motion reads.

Neither the state attorney general’s office nor the Mississippi Department of Human Services immediately responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the motion.

Nancy New, the nonprofit’s director, pleaded guilty in April to charges of misusing welfare money, as did her son Zachary News, who helped run the center. They await sentencing and have agreed to testify against others. John Davis, an MDHS official, pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the state of Mississippi.

In October, Favre rebuked criticism of his alleged role in the scandal.

“I have been unfairly maligned in the media,” Favre said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. “I have done nothing wrong, and it is time to set the record straight.”

September 8, 2018;  Hattiesburg, MS, USA;  Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre warms up before the game between the Southern Miss Golden Eagles and Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at MM Roberts Stadium.  Favre played for Southern Miss.

September 8, 2018; Hattiesburg, MS, USA; Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre warms up before the game between the Southern Miss Golden Eagles and Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at MM Roberts Stadium. Favre played for Southern Miss.
(Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports)

Favre explained that he was unaware that “funds designated for welfare recipients went to the University of Me.”

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White, at the time, told Fox News that there is no documentation showing that Favre knew the money came from a TANF fund, though he said Favre did know it came from the agency that runs “programs that are geared toward helping the poor”.

By Loris Jones

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