Former St. Louis Albert Pujols Sues Jack Clark for Steroid Accusations

By Millard Baker, Senior Writer, Steroid.com

Former St. Louis Cardinals baseball player Albert Pujols has filed a libel lawsuit against Jack “The Ripper” Clark, Clark, also a former Cardinal player, has been accused of making “malicious, reckless and outrageous falsehoods” concerning Pujols. The lawsuit referred to Clark's statements about Pujols' alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). Clark claimed to “know for a fact” that Pujols used steroids. 

The suit claims that Clark intentionally and maliciously intended to defame Pujols' character with the steroid accusations; the fact that Clark has repeatedly referred to steroid users as “cheating,” “phonies,” “frauds,” “creeps” and “lowlifes” was further evidence that Clark want to hurt Pujols' reputation.

Clark had started a new job co-hosting “The King and the Ripper” at WGNU (920 AM) radio last summer when he launched various steroid accusations at Pujols. Clark didn't profess to have any direct knowledge of steroid use by Pujols. Instead, he based his opinion on an alleged conversation with Pujols' personal trainer Chris Mihlfeld over thirteen years ago. Mihlfeld, according Clark, said Pujols was an example of what steroids could do for a baseball player.

Mihlfeld has vehemently denied any such conversation took place. He even bet his life of Pujols being a steroid-free athlete. Pujols also denied using steroids citing his belief in Jesus Christ and his respect for his loving wife and family as reasons he has avoided the muscle-building drugs.

Chet Pleban, the attorney representing Clark, didn't seem particularly concerned by the defamation lawsuit filed by Pujols. To the contrary, Pleban welcomed the lawsuit.

"Jack has said all along and, certainly, continues to say that if Albert Pujols wants to file the lawsuit, he looks forward to defending the lawsuit before 12 unbiased people who don't have a horse in the race," Pleban said. "And we'll look forward to the discovery process and the deposition of Mr. Pujols. I have a variety of questions for Mr. Pujols."

Pleban and Clark would likely enjoy deposing Pujols (and perhaps Mihlfeld and other MLB players) and compelling them to discuss steroids under oath.

Another reason for Pleban's and Clark's confidence in the face of the lawsuit is the perception among some legal experts that it is a lawsuit that Pujols has very little chance of winning.

Sandy Davidson, a communications law teacher at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that it would be extremely difficult for a public figure like Pujols to successfully prove his case in court.

“Jack Clark is clearly on the hot seat on this but because of the way American law is, he’s got a lot of padding between him and a big libel judgment,’’ Davidson said. “All the cards are stacked against you if you’re a public figure.’’

Source:

Caesar, D. (August 23, 2013). Media law expert: Pujols faces long odds if he sues Clark. Retrieved from //www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/media-law-expert-pujols-faces-long-odds-if-he-sues/article_5605373e-f32c-5271-8742-7d65714a39f8.html