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Jets Defensive End Sued for Throwing Snowball at Fan

By DNAinfo Staff on December 20, 2010 7:18pm

By Jennifer Glickel

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — New York Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis was hit with a lawsuit on Monday by a Seattle Seahawks fan who the football star allegedly hit with a snowball two years ago, according to reports.

Seahawks season ticket holder Robert Larsen claims in the lawsuit that Ellis caused him physical and emotional distress when the defensive end hit him with a chunk of snow or ice after the Jets lost in Seattle on Dec. 21, 2008, TMZ.com reported.

"I woke up this morning and somebody texted me," ESPN quoted Ellis as saying to reporters on Monday about how he learned of the lawsuit. "I was like, 'OK, cool.' I guess the statute of limitations [hasn't run out]...I don't know."

As they came off the field and headed toward the locker room after their defeat in that winter of 2008, Jets players were hit with snowballs from fans in the stands. Ellis was caught on video responding by picking up a block of snow or ice and throwing it into the crowd.

The video shows Ellis throwing a large chunk of packed snow at a fan who was taunting players with a deprecating sign as they passed by. The fan, believed to be Larsen, catches the snow block and raises it above his head victoriously.

The NFL fined Ellis $10,000 for his behavior, according to ESPN.

Larsen does not indicate in the lawsuit how much money he is seeking in damages, but claims to have endured physical injury, humiliation, mental distress, pain and wage loss from the incident, TMZ wrote.