NEWARK, N.J. - The parents of a girl paralyzed in an accident caused by a drunken fan sued the NFL, contending the league should be held responsible for the girl's injuries.
The lawsuit says the league promotes the kind of behavior that led the fan to drink 14 beers at a Giants game in 1999 and then drive home.
Ronald and Fazila Verni filed suit in 2001, but it was refiled Thursday in Hackensack to include the league and commissioner Paul Tagliabue as defendants.
Spokesman Greg Aiello said the league had not been served with a copy of the lawsuit and declined comment. Paul Soderman, a lawyer for the Giants, said the team is not responsible.
"There really is no liability on behalf of the Giants or the sports authority, even for something as horrific as this," Soderman said. "Everybody feels badly about it, but that doesn't translate into liability."
The Vernis' daughter, Antonia, was 2 years old at the time of the accident. She was paralyzed from the neck down, remains on a ventilator and is not expected to regain use of her arms and legs, the family's lawyer said.
The family was headed home from a pumpkin-picking trip when their car and a truck driven by Daniel Lanzaro, 34, collided. Lanzaro's blood-alcohol content was 0.26, nearly three times the limit at which New Jersey law presumes someone is unable to drive a motor vehicle safely. He was sentenced to five years in prison.
BRONCOS: Backup quarterback Steve Beuerlein is prepared to start Sunday against the Steelers, but coach Mike Shanahan left the door open for Jake Plummer to play. "Jake is feeling a lot better, so that's a good sign," Shanahan said. "Unless there's a setback, he'll be ready to go." Plummer partially separated his throwing shoulder four weeks ago against the Chargers, then aggravated the injury Sunday against the Chiefs. Safety Kenoy Kennedy, defensive tackle Daryl Gardener and tight end Shannon Sharpe are questionable.
COLTS: Running back Edgerrin James missed practice because of the flu. James, who missed the past two games with a sore back, is expected to practice today, but a decision on whether he will play against the Panthers on Sunday probably will not be made until just before kickoff.
DOLPHINS: Linebacker Junior Seau (strained left hamstring) missed practice and may not play Sunday against the Jaguars. Coach Dave Wannstedt said Seau won't start but could be used sparingly.
FALCONS: Receiver Peerless Price (foot injury) returned to practice and was upgraded to questionable. Receiver Brian Finneran, who missed the past four games with a broken left hand, will play Monday against the Rams. Linebacker Sam Rogers (left knee injury) did not practice and remains doubtful. He has missed the last two games.
GIANTS: Tight end Jeremy Shockey (foot injury) is probable for Sunday's game against the Patriots. Shockey practiced with the team, but coach Jim Fassel held him out of the two-minute drill.
JAGUARS: Punter Chris Hanson will miss the rest of the season after gashing his leg with an ax while chopping a log in the locker room in what was supposed to be a motivational stunt. Hanson was put on the reserve list for nonfootball injuries. Jacksonville signed Mark Royals to punt and hold for kicks.
RAMS: Middle linebacker Robert Thomas practiced after resting his injured groin and expects to play Monday against the Falcons. Tailback Lamar Gordon (sprained left wrist) also returned.
Phillips released
CALGARY - The Stampeders released troubled running back Lawrence Phillips.
"I'm not going get into details - he didn't agree with the way we were doing things," coach Jim Barker said.
The Canadian Football League team signed Phillips, a former NFL first-round draft pick, in the offseason after Montreal cut him in May for failing to meet behavior standards.
Linebacker Otis Floyd, who hit an official in the head with his helmet, was suspended for the rest of the season.
