Santonio Holmes, Pittsburg Steelers' Reciever, Slapped With Nightclub Attack Lawsuit

PITTSBURG (CBS/AP) Santonio Holmes, Super Bowl XLIII MVP, and receiver with the Pittsburg Steelers, is facing some potentially serious legal problems.

A lawsuit filed in Florida last week by Anshonoe Mills alleges that Holmes threw a liquor filled glass at her face, cutting her just above the eye, after she refused to give up her seat in the VIP section of an Orlando nightclub on March 7.

Mills is suing Holmes for battery, assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She is seeking more than $15,000 in damages.

Mills claims in the lawsuit that when she confronted Holmes, after being escorted out of the Orlando club, Rain, he told her that "he was an NFL football player and that he could not face criminal charges," according to the Pittsburg Tribune Review.

The complaint further states that Holmes tried to offer her money to keep her from pressing charges and that she felt pressured by responding Orlando police officers not to do so. She made a brief statement at the time that she did not intend to press charges, and police officers did not write a report, the lawsuit states.

Jacques Cooper, an Orlando attorney representing Mills told the Tribune Review, "We're not really making comments in-depth about the matter at this time."

The lawsuit does not say whether Mills took any money from Holmes that night.

Mills claims that Holmes, who was allegedly intoxicated, quarrelsome and arrogant, approached her and told her to "Get up," from a couch in the VIP room at the club. He said that he had been sitting on that particular couch and that she needed to move, according to the lawsuit.

Mills refused, and Holmes began "yelling and waving his arms," the lawsuit states. A "verbal spat ensued" and other club patrons separated the two, at which point Holmes "threw his entire glass cup of liquor at (Mills') face," according to the lawsuit.

Mills also names the club's owner, J.J. Whispers Group, in her lawsuit for failing to provide adequate protection for patrons.

Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett said the organization learned about the accusations this morning. "It's inappropriate for us to comment because we're still gathering information," Lockett said.