NFLPA Legal War Ends With a Whimper: Ex-Lawyer Settles Retaliation Suit

Say goodbye to one of the messiest legal battles in NFLPA history. Heather McPhee, the union's longtime associate general counsel who was shown the door last December, has settled her federal lawsuit against the NFLPA and its top brass. The case — which accused the union of trying to silence a whistleblower — is officially off the table.

According to a court motion filed Friday in Washington federal court, McPhee and the defendants “have executed a final settlement agreement in this matter.” The parties are asking Judge Amir H. Ali to pump the brakes on all pending action for 30 days while they cross the Ts and dot the Is. In other words: it's done, just paperwork pending.

The Backstory That Had Everyone Talking

This wasn't some petty office feud. McPhee's lawsuit alleged a conspiracy to keep her from cooperating with a federal criminal inquiry into union finances. She claimed she was put on paid administrative leave in August after repeatedly raising legal red flags about decisions made by union leaders. Then came the kicker — she was fired less than two weeks after filing her federal suit.

Her targets? Former executive director Lloyd Howell Jr., lead counsel Tom DePaso, and Matt Curtin, the head of the union's licensing arm Players Inc. The suit threw around heavy charges: illegal misconduct, sex discrimination, breach of fiduciary duty, and retaliation.

The Strip Club Subplot

You can't tell this story without mentioning the scandal that sent shockwaves through the league. Howell resigned last July as ESPN was preparing to report that he had used union funds for a car service from a Fort Lauderdale airport to a Miami strip club. On top of that, he allegedly sought reimbursement for a trip to an Atlanta strip club — one he took with two union employees in tow.

Now, with this settlement, McPhee walks away, the defendants avoid a public trial, and the whole saga fades into the background. No winners here — just a closed case and a whole lot of questions that may never get answered in a courtroom.