Salvador Cabanas: Victim Of Blackmail Or A Legitimate Lawsuit?

Salvador Cabanas has just received news that he is the target of a massive lawsuit in Mexico.

According to lawyer Francisco Carreno, Maria Fatima Vera Ortigoza, Cabanas' niece, drove Cabanas' car while using a cellular phone. The end result was that she hit Jose Manuel Torres while he was riding his bicycle. Torres' family has contracted the services of Carreno, who flew to Paraguay to personally present Cabanas with the papers.

Torres was hospitalized for eight months with severe internal organ damage, especially to the kidney, spleen, and ureter. The accident occurred two years ago and Carreno has given Cabanas 40 days to respond.

Ms. Vera has an arrest warrant pending for her part in the accident. The following scenario makes me want to think what has transpired.

It is a known fact that Salvador Cabanas was shot in the head in the beginning of 2010 after a dispute with a customer at a Mexican bar. The dispute was centered on one of his last games with Club America.

Cabanas received publicity while hospitalized in Mexico and while being transferred to Paraguay to continue his treatment. Club America apparently promised that it would pay for his treatment and has retracted its promise.

Cabanas retaliated by taking Club America before the Mexican Soccer Federation of FMF and threatening to go to FIFA.

While I am not defending what his niece did, it is often wondered why the car accident was not settled two years ago. Why did a Mexican lawyer attempt to revive what occurred two years ago? Is there a statute of limitation in these cases?

I am of the conclusion that the whole thing is a carefully orchestrated attempt at blackmail against Cabanas for attempting to do battle against Club America in the FMF or FIFA.

It is hoped that justice can be served for Cabanas as well as for the family of Torres without the use of blackmail, but it is doubtful.