'86 Chronology-General Litigation

Event Date: January 30th, 1986

Event Description: Harris Sues Generals

Source: UPI

A defensive end released by the New Jersey Generals after one season has filed a federal lawsuit, claiming he is entitled to $450,000 in unpaid salary and $3 million in damages.

Marshall Harris, who played for the Generals during the U.S. Football League's 1984 season, claims his contracts included a provision guaranteeing he would be paid even if he was released from the team.

Harris was released at the beginning of the 1985 season, although the three one-year contracts he signed ran through the 1986 season.

In addition to the unpaid salary, a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court this week seeks $1 million in damages to compensate him for mental anguish and $2 million in punitive damages.

A spokesman for the Generals, Larry Sherman, said he could not comment on why Harris was released. He also said he could not comment on the lawsuit or provide the name of the team's lawyer.

“Counsel for the team -- that's privileged information,” Sherman said. “We don't give that out.”

The lawsuit by Marshall, of Berea, Ohio, also charges the USFL and the league players' association failed to help him enforce his contracts.

The legal papers filed on behalf of Harris charge an illegal conspiracy was involved in the failure by the players' association to pursue his contract grievance and the failure of the USFL to resolve the grievance.

Harris played college football at Texas Christian University. He signed contracts that called for him to be paid $100,000 for the 1984 season, $125,000 for the 1985 season and $150,000 for the 1986 season.

The contracts also called for the payment of a salary for a fourth, or option year, Harris claimed.

Story-(UPI)