More Briggs Baby Mama Drama

Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs was enjoying the Hawaii sun at the Pro Bowl on Sunday, but on Monday he was the topic of conversation in a Cook County courtroom.

The court considered an injunction by the mother of Briggs' 10-month-old daughter, Sabina Chaves. Her lawyers filed an injunction last week to keep the child support case from being heard in Arizona.

Briggs had filed the Arizona lawsuit in an attempt to declare the existence of the father-child relationship in order to establish support. On Monday, his lawyers filed a motion to have a similar Cook County case -- filed by Chaves after the Arizona suit -- dismissed entirely.

"I'm guessing he's feeling the child support laws are more favorable toward fathers in Arizona," Chaves' lawyer, Steve Lake, said.

Lake said Arizona has a set formula in child support cases that strictly takes into account the child's needs, and doesn't factor in the father's lifestyle or income. Briggs signed a six year, $36 million contract with the Bears in 2008.

Chaves and Briggs met in June 2006 and started dating about six months later, according to court documents. The child was born in March 2008.

Chaves, a 25-year-old college student, lived in Briggs' Tuscon, AZ home throughout her pregnancy and for a period of time after she had the baby.

Chaves says she moved to California after Briggs allegedly got another woman pregnant.

Briggs' Chicago lawyer, Anita M. Ventrelli, said the Arizona lawsuit was filed when Chaves still lived in that state, and doubts that Chaves has set up a bona fide residency in California.

"Lance told Sabrina that he was filing the lawsuit, which was something he didn't have to do," Ventrelli said. "She dodged being served in Arizona. We had to get an alternative service to get it to her."

An alternative service is a court order that allows a person to be served by a family member or a lawyer.

Chaves claims that Briggs threatened to remove his financial support after she moved to California, and has only visited the child twice since October. Her lawyer says his payments have been "sporadic," but Ventrelli disputes that claim, saying that the visitation issues were about Briggs giving her enough notice.

"Lance hasn't done anything untoward in this situation. In fact he's done more than most guys would do. Lance is a man who has always had an intent and desire to take care of his children," Ventrelli said.

But Chaves tells a different story, claiming Briggs led her to believe he would marry her and that they were in an exclusive relationship. She says Briggs paid "nominal support" after the baby was born, and that when she asked for more he said, "Don't get selfish, you should be happy with what you get, you never had income before."

Chaves also claims he has pressured her to not hire an Arizona attorney and to settle out of court.

"He's been playing possum. He's been hiding out and not doing anything with the Arizona case and telling her not to do anything with the Arizona case," Lake said. "She doesn't have lawyers to fight the thing in two different states."

According to the injunction, Briggs claims his main residence is in Paradise Valley, AZ, one of his arguments for hearing in the case in that state. But Chavez's legal team claims the linebacker rents the home to friends. The injunction includes screen shots from Briggs' Myspace page, which lists his location as Chicago, and also claims his time spent in Chicago with the Bears also contributes to making him an Illinois resident.

Ventrelli says Briggs "definitely spends more time living in Arizona than Chicago."

The case is scheduled to be back in Cook County Court in two weeks.

Leave Comments