Reported by: Laure Quinlivan
Photographed by: 9News
9News Anchor (on set):
Bengals receiver Chad Johnson is in Seattle tonight, far from critics who claim he owes them for reneging on promises.
After a status hearing Friday in the civil case filed against him, Johnson's attorney defended Cincinnati's star player.
The I-Team's Laure Quinlivan peppered him with questions.
Laure Quinlivan, I-Team Reporter (on set):
I did. This is a result of Chad Johnson taking the stage at a local comedy club on several occasions last fall to give away prizes to people in the audience.
But most of the so-called "winners" whose names Johnson drew from a hat, say they never got their prizes. They've filed a lawsuit accusing Johnson of fraud.
Many are angry they got sucked into Chad's biggest promise – he was giving away a brand new Lexus.
Last December the Funny Bone comedy club in Newport promoted Johnson's Lexus giveaway on the radio.
People like Tom Monahan from Montgomery paid a higher ticket price to get in the Funny None that night, believing they had a chance to win the car.
They say Chad Johnson took the stage to give away the car and then said – surprise – he was giving the Lexus to his girlfriend.
Eric Deters, Plaintiff's Attorney (on camera):
"The silence in that room when Chad made that big announcement the car was going to the girlfriend – the proverbial 'you could hear a pin drop,' just kinda, I think, illustrates how upset everybody was. I mean you take a chance to win something and you show up, you know it's no different if the Ohio Lottery decided they're not going to give away the first prize in the Ohio Lottery this week to the person who actually won the ticket, and, 'Oh, we're sorry.' Who wouldn't be upset about that? I think anybody would be upset."
Laure Quinlivan, I-Team Reporter (on camera):
"What do you say to all those people who thought they had a chance to win the car?"
Jeff Mando, Johnson's Attorney (on camera):
"I'm sorry if they felt they were misled in any way, but Chad really had a good heart there. He was trying to do the right thing and we don't control and we don't speak for the Funny Bone."
Laure Quinlivan, I-Team Reporter (on camera):
"Do you think the Funny Bone is at fault in any way?"
Jeff Mando, Johnson's Attorney (on camera):
"I don't know."
Laure Quinlivan, I-Team Reporter (on set):
Today Judge Beth Ward gave lawyers for all three sides 120-days for discovery. They're due back in court in January.
They may mediate and settle the case before then.
9News Anchor (on set):
Did the Bengals have any comment?
Laure Quinlivan, I-Team Reporter (on set):
No, they're all in Seattle preparing for Sunday's game. Attorney Deters says he's amazed Bengals management hasn't pulled Chad aside and told him to make this go away. It could be a distraction.
