Former Wisconsin Lineman Files Lawsuit Against Dayne

A former Wisconsin lineman has sued Ron Dayne over a 1998 locker room scuffle, claiming the Heisman Trophy winner caused an eye injury that ended his career.

Pat Daley’s suit, filed in Dane County court last week, alleges the injury cost him any chance of playing professional football.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified medical expenses and compensation for lost college and professional football opportunities, compensatory damages, compensation for pain and suffering, punitive damages and attorney fees.

“Suffice it to say we do not agree with the facts as they are presented in the complaint,” said Timothy Sweeney, an attorney for Dayne, who is a rookie for the New York Giants.

According to the suit, Daley, Dayne and teammates were in the locker room preparing for practice when Dayne threw one of Daley’s shoes into a whirlpool bath. Daley thought the shoe was ruined and confronted Dayne, demanding that he buy him replacement shoes.

Dayne then hit Daley in the left eye, the lawsuit states. Offensive lineman Aaron Gibson, who now plays for the Detroit Lions, grabbed Daley from behind, pinning his arms, and Dayne again hit Daley, shattering the orbital socket around his left eye.

Metal plates were needed to repair the eye socket, and he sat out the remainder of the 1998 season. He did not play in 1999.

Daley, who remains a student at Wisconsin and is working toward a business degree, declined to press criminal charges at the time of the incident.

“This was an extremely serious injury that shouldn’t have occurred, which needn’t have occurred, which threw away the young man’s career,” Daley attorney Michael R. Fox said.

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