New York Yankees’ Steroid Story|Takes Nasty, Surprising Turn

(CN) - Attorneys for Alex Rodriguez have a conflict of interest, as they are helping a woman sue Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who told her he "intentionally misled federal investigators during the Roger Clemens investigation" and "knew of Yankee clubhouse steroid use by various Yankee players by name," the woman claims in court.

Louise Meanwell sued Tacopina, Seigel & Turano in New York County Supreme Court. She wants the law firm and its partner Stephen Turano prohibited from representing Rodriguez, who is appealing a suspension from Major League Baseball, which accused him of using banned steroids.

Meanwell and Cashman are involved in a nasty fight over their alleged romantic relationship, according to New York City tabloids.

In her lawsuit, Meanwell claims Turano is representing her in a legal matter in New Jersey, related to her relationship with Cashman. She claims she paid the law firm $10,000 for this.

"During petitioner's initial meeting and subsequent conversations with Mr. Turano petitioner shared with Mr. Turano intimate details of petitioner's relationship with the New York Yankees' general manager, Brian Cashman," the lawsuit states. "The necessity of these conversation [sic] was due to the fact the the [sic] criminal charges lodged against petitioner in New York County, at the behest of Mr. Cashman, could have an impact on petitioner's NJ matter.

"Petitioner shared with Mr. Turano how Mr. Cashman shared with petitioner that he (Cashman) intentionally misled federal investigators during the Roger Clemens investigation.

"Petitioner shared with Mr. Turano how Mr. Cashman told petitioner that he (Cashman) knew of Yankee clubhouse steroid use by various Yankee players by name.

"Petitioner shared with Mr. Turano how Mr. Cashman was ambivalent to the use of performance enhancement drugs so long as nothing came back to the Yankee organization.

"Petitioner shared with Mr. Turano how Mr. Cashman shared with petitioner his (Cashman's) win at any cost attitude.

"Furthermore, petitioner shared with Mr. Turano petitioner's knowledge, based on her (petitioner's) intimate relationship with Brian Cashman, that petitioner's NY County arrest with orchestrated by Mr. Cashman to protect the Yankees and his (Cashman's) marriage." (Parentheses in complaint.)

Meanwell claims that the law firm did not contact her before it agreed to represent Rodriguez, nor did she give it informed consent "so that Mr. Tacopina could represent what could be the differing interest of petitioner and Mr. Rodriguez."

The lawsuit continues: "Mr. Rodriguez and his current circumstance is consistent with a New York Yankee management takedown, as it was in petitioner's situation. While it appears the Yankee organization is attempting to get out from under a $100,000,000 obligation to Mr. Rodriguez, petitioner's interests are not so consistent with his (Rodriguez) as for petitioner to give consent to Tacopina, Seigel & Turano, PC to represent Mr. Rodriguez's possible divergent interests.

"Notwithstanding the foregoing, petitioner has empathy for Mr. Rodriguez in his plight with Yankee management." (Parentheses in complaint.)

Meanwell asks the court to prohibit the defendant law firm from representing Rodriguez.

She is represented by Peter J. Gleason of New York City.

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