Fan sues New England Patriots, says they ruined his Tom Brady-signed flag

BOSTON — The New England Patriots brought about irreparable injury to a U.S. flag signed by Tom Brady by improperly displaying it within the workforce’s corridor of fame at Gillette Stadium, the flag’s proprietor contends in a federal lawsuit.

After it had been on show a few months, Brady’s signature written in blue Sharpie had considerably light, which decreased the flag’s worth by as a lot as $1 million, in accordance with the go well with filed in opposition to the workforce Wednesday in Boston.

A Patriots spokesperson stated Thursday the workforce had no instant remark.

The flag, described as “a priceless piece of sports activities memorabilia and historic artifact,” flew over the now-closed Foxboro Stadium on Dec. 22, 2001.

Daniel Vitale, 42, of Hampstead, New Hampshire, purchased the flag in 2020 as an funding.

“I’m a die-hard Patriots fan and have been for 40 years,” Vitale advised The Related Press by telephone Thursday. “That flag was so important to me as a result of it was proper after 9/11 and it was the final common season recreation at Foxboro Stadium.”

Vitale loaned the flag to the Patriots Corridor of Fame in June 2021 after being assured that it will be cared for correctly. He wished it again a few months later as a result of he thought it’d skyrocket in worth, as Brady, who now performs for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was considering retirement on the time, in accordance with the go well with.

Vitale’s youngest daughter has autism and the household wished to rent a full-time nanny to take care of her, he stated.

However when Vitale obtained the flag again, Brady’s signature had light.

Neither the lighting on the Corridor of Fame nor the show case’s glass had been designed to guard autographed sports activities memorabilia, and there was “a major hole within the glass instantly in entrance of the flag via which unfiltered gentle and warmth may cross,” in accordance with the lawsuit, which estimates the loss in worth as starting from a number of hundred thousand {dollars} to as much as $1 million.

The go well with alleges breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation and fraudulent misrepresentation, and seeks a jury trial and unspecified damages.

The lawsuit was a final resort. “I’ve tried to do every little thing I can to settle with these guys, however they do not even need to speak to us,” Vitale stated.