A New England Patriots fan has filed a federal lawsuit against the team for allegedly damaging a flag signed by legendary quarterback Tom Brady.
Per The Associated Press, Danny Vitale, 42, claims he bought the flag in 2020 and loaned it to the Patriots Hall of Fame in June 2021. According to Vitale, he felt comfortable in doing so because he was assured the flag would be taken care of.
“I am a die-hard Patriots fan and have been for 40 years,” Vitale said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “That flag was so significant to me because it was right after 9/11 and it was the last regular season game at Foxboro Stadium.”
A couple months later, with Brady’s retirement talk looming, Vitale decided to retrieve the flag and try to cash in on his investment. But he noticed Brady’s signature had faded significantly.
He’s now taking the team to court with the argument that “a significant gap in the glass directly in front of the flag through which unfiltered light and heat could pass” damaged the flag.
“I’ve tried to do everything I can to settle with these guys, but they don’t even want to talk to us,” said Vitale.
The estimated worth of the flag, according to the lawsuit, is in the “several hundred-thousand dollars to up to $1 million” range.
