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Former equipment manager suing Cowher, Steelers
Paul Gallagher accuses Cowher and the Steelers of improperly firing him, then preventing him from finding work with other NFL teams by spreading allegations that Gallagher denies.
Thomas Giotto, lawyer for the Steelers, declined to comment on the suit until after he meets with team officials to discuss it. An attempt to reach Cowher yesterday evening was not successful.
The suit, filed in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on Aug. 5, asks for unspecified damages and accuses Cowher and the Steelers of defamation, conspiracy, negligent supervision and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Cowher took other Steelers equipment managers aside during training camp Aug. 2, 2002, and told them Gallagher was "sexually harassing and/or assaulting ball boys," according to the suit filed by attorney Brendan Petrick of White Oak.
Other Steelers officials then told Gallagher that "Cowher is really (angry) you are sexually harassing these kids" and told Gallagher to slip out of camp, according to the suit. Gallagher then left.
Gallagher says he continued to receive paychecks for several months despite his absence from the team. He says he was never officially told he was fired, but that paychecks stopped coming in January 2003.
The suit says the Steelers told the Detroit Lions organization that Gallagher is "a pervert" and prevented him from landing a job with other organizations by spreading untrue rumors.
Gallagher is "neither a homosexual, nor has he any homosexual tendencies, nor is he a pedophile or pervert," the suit says.
