Peeping Teams? Eagles Cheerleaders File Lawsuit

Two former Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday claiming players from 23 visiting teams repeatedly spied on the cheerleaders as they dressed before and after games.

The cheerleaders` dressing room adjoins the visiting team`s locker room and a door connects the two. At various times, the players drilled holes through the door and scratched the paint off a small glass window to see through to the other side, the lawsuit alleges. According to the lawsuit, the women learned of the action in January, when The New York Times, citing sources, reported the alleged peeping.

The plaintiffs contend that the "ability to peer into the cheerleaders` locker room, and to view them in (various) states of undress, was considered one of the special `perks` of being a visiting team of the Eagles."

"It was common knowledge among virtually the entire National Football League – while at the same time a carefully guarded secret to be known only to the players and other team employees of the (visiting) teams – that these conditions existed," the suit states.

The former cheerleaders – identified as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 – are seeking damages in excess of $75,000 from each of the teams, its players and other employees. Between the two of them, the women were Eagles cheerleaders from 1986 to this year.

Among the teams named in the lawsuit are the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos. The teams named in the suit all played the Eagles during the 1986-2001 time period.

The Eagles were not named as defendants.

"The actions ... were so intentional in nature, so outrageous in character, and extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency and are to be regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable in a civilized society," the lawsuit states.

The woman claim to have suffered emotional distress, and damage to their careers as a result of the alleged incident.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league could not comment because officials had not seen the lawsuit.

Michael J. McKenna, the plaintiffs` Cherry Hill, N.J.-based lawyer, did not return a telephone call seeking comment Wednesday. Veterans Stadium administration officials also did not return a call for comment.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News