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Former New England Patriots linebacker and NFL Network analyst, Willie McGinest, finds himself in legal trouble once again as he faces a second lawsuit this year.
The latest legal battle stems from an alleged altercation at a gym in Long Beach, California, during 2021, where McGinest is accused of punching a man after a dispute over gym weights.
According to TMZ Sports, Andrew Cortez filed a lawsuit against McGinest, claiming that the former NFL player struck him in the face following a heated argument over the use of a weight.
The situation escalated rapidly as three additional men allegedly joined McGinest and proceeded to repeatedly punch Cortez in the head and back approximately 30 to 40 times.
Eventually, 24 Hour Fitness employees intervened and managed to break up the fight, but not before Cortez suffered physical injuries and emotional distress. In addition to physical injuries, Cortez seeks unspecified damages in his lawsuit against McGinest.
This recent legal action follows another lawsuit filed against McGinest in March of this year. In that incident, McGinest was accused of assaulting a different individual at a Los Angeles restaurant in December after a disagreement.
The assault allegations led to McGinest’s arrest for assault with a deadly weapon, and NFL Network subsequently suspended him.
The legal troubles appear to have had further professional consequences for McGinest, as he was among the individuals affected by job cuts at NFL Media in March.
The 51-year-old former linebacker had an illustrious 15-season career, during which he played for both the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns.
As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how these recent developments will impact Willie McGinest’s personal and professional life. McGinest’s reputation as a former NFL player and analyst now faces significant scrutiny as he deals with the aftermath of these lawsuits.