Ravens Lose In Logo Ruling

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

February 22, 1999 / 9:36 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

A federal judge has upheld a jury's verdict that the Baltimore Ravens copied their logo design from a security guard, who sued the NFL franchise for $10 million.

In an opinion dated Feb. 19, U.S. District Judge Marvin Garbis denied the team's request for a new trial, saying the jury's verdict last November was "supported by adequate evidence."

He also rejected defense lawyers' suggestion that one juror was coerced by a deadlocked panel into deciding in favor of security guard Frederick Bouchat.

The Ravens contend the design was created by league artists at NFL Properties in New York without any input from Bouchat. The Ravens' logo features outspread raven wings flanking a shield bearing the letter "B".

Bouchat, a former security guard, claims that while working at the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation in downtown Baltimore, he decorated a Cleveland Browns helmet with a logo he designed shortly after state officials lured the Browns to Baltimore in November 1995. He says he placed the helmet on his desk in the building's lobby.

The Ravens have said they will appeal the verdict. Ravens spokesman Kevin Byrne; the team's lawyer, John Paul Reiner; and NFL officials could not be reached for comment Monday.

Bouchat declined to comment on the ruling, referring the matter to his attorneys. But the judge's decision bolstered Bouchat's claim, said his lawyer, Howard Schulman.

"We're confident that the verdict will hold up," Schulman said.

The amount Bouchat will receive will be determined at a later hearing before another federal jury.

In a separate motion, the judge opened the way for Bouchat's lawyers to investigate a Ravens' employee's claim the team had Bouchat's design at their headquarters.

Since the Ravens will likely appeal, Garbis wrote "it cannot be said that any further evidence relating to the Ravens' access (to the logo design) is, necessarily, moot."