The Dan LeBatard Show/NBC Sports Boston
A legal expert believes Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel could potentially sue for having their privacy violated.
Two weeks ago, Russini and Vrabel, who are both married to other people, were photographed together in several incriminating photos at an adults-only resort in Arizona.
This week, Vrabel announced he would “seek counseling” due to the fallout of his alleged affair with Russini.
According to TMZ, the person who took the photo was a hotel guest, not a private investigator.
Via TMZ
The photographer who snapped the pics of Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini lookin’ all cozy in Arizona was NOT a private investigator hired by a scorned spouse, despite the internet rumor.
In reality, TMZ Sports has learned a local couple happened to be vacationing at Ambiente, a luxury boutique resort in Sedona, AZ, on March 28, just like Mike and Dianna.
We’re told the husband is a big sports fan, and he recognized Vrabel … so they snapped several pics showing them lounging at the pool and in the hot tub.
Sportico legal expert Michael McCann reveals that the person who took the photos may have violated Arizona privacy laws.
Via Sportico
To that point, Ambiente Sedona explicitly limits photography “to times when other guests are not included” in photographs and forbids “taking photos in the public spaces that invades other guests’ privacy.” With those assurances, Ambiente Sedona guests should expect they aren’t being surreptitiously photographed.
The photographs might even be evidence of a criminal act.
In Arizona, it’s a crime to knowingly photograph another person when that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy and that person is having “sexual contact” or is without clothing. In several of the published photos, Vrabel and Russini are in a hot tub or with their fingers interlaced. Even if those circumstances fall short of what’s needed to show a criminal act, the photographs could still give rise to civil claims.
McCann believes that Russini and Vrabel could sue the photographer if they wanted to.
Via Sportico
Vrabel or Russini could theoretically sue the photographer (assuming that person could be identified) or the resort, on the basis that it bills itself as an “adult-only” resort where people can get away and enjoy private time. In reality, suing seems unlikely as doing so would only draw more attention to the controversy.
As of now, the person who took the photos has yet to be revealed, and we’ll likely never find out who it is.