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Monday, March 18, 2024 | Back issues
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Lie-Detector Offer in Libel|Suit Over Steroids in Baseball

ST. LOUIS (CN) - Baseball superstar Albert Pujols should submit to a lie-detector test, the man who accused him of taking steroids said in a bid to settle defamation claims.

Pujols, also known as Jose Alberto Pujols Alcantara, sued Jack Clark earlier this month in St. Louis County Court. The lawsuit said that Clark, in the first week of his radio show this past August, said "he knew for a fact" that Pujols took steroids. In the lawsuit, Pujols called Clark, a former major leaguer himself, a "struggling radio host" and said Clark made the accusations to boost ratings.

Clark's attorney, Albert Watkins, sent a letter to Pujols' attorney, Los Angeles-based Martin Singer, on Monday. The letter outlines a proposal by Clark to settle the lawsuit, which involves both sides taking a lie-detector test.

Under the settlement:

Pujols would take a polygraph test "to ascertain whether he is being deceptive when he asserts that he has never used steroids of performance enhancing drugs while in the minor and major leagues."

Clark would take a polygraph test "to ascertain whether he is being deceptive when he asserts that" Pujols' former trainer Chris Mihlfeld "told him your client 'juiced,'" according to the letter.

Singer said Clark would issue a public apology if he fails and Pujols passes. If Pujols fails, the letter says the defamation lawsuit would be dismissed with prejudice.

Watkins wrote that this settlement offer would save both sides excessive costs in pursuing this case as well as giving the opportunity to "confirm their integrity."

"Your client's commitment to donate all monetary damages awarded him in this case (assuming, arguendo, a judgment is entered in favor of your client) is noble," the letter states. "It is also indicative of what appears to be your client's disinterest in monetary gain from this case and his prioritization of a charitable cause. Again, this is noble, But I am compelled to point out that odds tremendously favor Mr. Alcantara paying your firm (and your St. Louis based counter-parts/collegaues[sic]) more in legal fees prior to his deposition being taken than one could ever hope in one's wildest and wettest of dreams to procure through post-judgment execution efforts directed at seizing or procuring assets of Mr. Clark."

The letter gives Pujols' counsel 10 days to accept the settlement offer.

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