Source: CBS Miami
Roger Goodell should not be permitted to act as an arbitrator in the Flores vs NFL lawsuit. One would think that should be obvious. But for anyone who cannot see the major conflict of interest, let’s give you three major ones to consider.
First, a major player in the lawsuit should not be in a position to determine the outcome between himself and the plaintiff. Nine times out of ten, that would mean an automatic win for the defense.
Second, Goodell is a lawyer and the American Bar Association has strict rules regarding the manner an attorney is to conduct himself under the Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Rule 3.4(e) states: in trial, allude to any matter that the lawyer does not reasonably believe is relevant or that will not be supported by admissible evidence, assert personal knowledge of facts in issue except when testifying as a witness, or state a personal opinion as to the justness of a cause, the credibility of a witness, the culpability of a civil litigant or the guilt or innocence of an accused. In other words, a lawyer cannot impose his opinion into a trial. An attorney, also, cannot be in a position of duty when she can be called as a witness like Goodell could, and most likely will, be under Rule 3.7.