TAMPA, Fla. — Jenn Sterger, the former Jets game-day hostess involved in the Brett Favre “sexting” scandal, filed a lawsuit Tuesday against her manager Phil Reese for the return of materials potentially intended for use in a tell-all book.
Sterger filed suit in Florida’s Hillsborough Country Circuit Court after making repeated attempts to obtain from Reese materials related to the alleged Favre messages. Deadspin, which broke the Favre scandal in October, reported the filing Wednesday.
According to the lawsuit, Sterger provided the materials to both her attorney and Reese, who at the time was working in consultation with her attorney regarding any legal issues that might arise from the Favre scandal.
Sterger claims she never relinquished her ownership rights to the materials and that she never intended to hand them over for any purpose other than legal advice.
The crux of the lawsuit focuses on an agreement that both Sterger and Reese signed in January for the purpose of forming a corporation, Game of Inches LLC, whose sole purpose was the pursuit of “economic opportunities relating to Jenn Sterger, including but not limited to, the publication of a book regarding her dealings with Brett Favre and the National Football League.”
The “Agreement to Agree,” as it is referred to in Sterger’s lawsuit, also stated that “all management and public relations work on behalf of the Corporation and Jenn Sterger will be solely handled by Phil Reese.”
Sterger’s suit claims she signed the agreement without independent legal advice.
According to the suit, Sterger has determined she does not wish to publish a book detailing the Favre saga and has since attempted to inform Reese that he is no longer authorized to represent her in any capacity.
Sterger claims Reese has ignored her demands, and has “continued to represent himself as Sterger’s manager, and at times her agent, for purposes of attempting to enter into contracts for Sterger.”
He has not only refused to return the materials, according to the court documents, but has also informed Sterger he will continue with his plan to pursue his own book deal based on the assumed authorization of the signed agreement.
Favre was accused of sexually harassing Sterger when both were with the Jets in 2008. Deadspin published the messages and an alleged photo of the quarterback’s genitalia that was allegedly sent to Sterger.
Favre later admitted to leaving Sterger voice messages but denied sending her the photographs. The NFL fined the 41-year-old quarterback $50,000 in December for a lack of cooperation in its investigation, but did not determine that he violated the league’s conduct policy.
Favre officially filed retirement papers with the NFL in January following the completion of his 20th year in the league.