NFL Family Sues Alabama Businessman

GADSDEN, Ala. (CN) - Father-and-son pro football players Jeremiah and Simeon Castille claim an Alabama businessman is using their names without permission to push his own sports camp and "supplements," including a "fishing pain management chip." The Castilles sued Mitch Ross and his company, S.W.A.T.S, in Etowah County Court.

Jeremiah Castille retired from the NFL and founded the nonprofit Jeremiah Castille Foundation, which set up community centers to help kids with school, computer training, job mentoring, tutoring and "character education." The foundation also conducts Christian-based "Sports Character Camps" for children.

Simeon Castille, a defensive back for the Vikings, donates time to his father's foundation.

They claim Ross, of Fultondale, Ala., promotes his SWATS (Sports With Alternatives to Steroids) and claims it provides Christian role models for children.

The Castilles say they cosponsored a sports camp for children with SWATS in 2008 - but they do not endorse the products that Ross is pushing on the Internet.

"Defendant Ross sells certain supplement products, including but not limited to S.W.A.T.S. Ultimate Sports Spray, S.W.A.T.S. Fishing Pain Management Chip and S.W.A.T.S. Performance Management Chip," the complaint states.

"The websites currently include photographs of plaintiffs and statements allegedly made by the plaintiffs endorsing these products. The plaintiffs did not ever make statements about these products. Defendant Ross has used materials created to promote the children's sports camps to falsely claim the Castilles endorse these products."

The Castilles claim that when they demanded that Ross cease and desist using their names and images, he promised to do so, but did not; then later "claimed information could not be removed from the website in less than two weeks."

The Castilles seek a restraining order and injunction, damages for misappropriation of their names and images, and costs.

They are represented by Thomas King.

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