Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook has been named a defendant in a new lawsuit that was brought by his former girlfriend Gracelyn Trimble. The Dakota County, Minnesota, district court complaint alleges that Cook imprisoned Trimble and that he also battered and assaulted her back in November 2020.
David Valentini of Valentini Law P.A. has been retained by Cook and immediately released a statement concerning the complaint, which includes that Trimble, who is a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Military, broke into Cook’s home and assaulted him and two houseguests. Valentini says that the litigation is merely an attempt to extort Cook for millions of dollars.
“The state of Minnesota applies the castle doctrine as it pertains to self-defense, which means when an intruder enters your home, you have the right to defend yourself and your family or guests,” Valentini said. “This right to self-defense includes the use of deadly force based on the nature of the perceived threat.”
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Minnesota Statute 609.06 addresses when it is authorized for someone to use reasonable force against another person without the other’s consent. It includes exceptions for when used by any person in resisting or aiding another to resist an offense against the person and when used by any person in lawful possession of real or personal property, or by another assisting the person in lawful possession, in resisting a trespass upon or other unlawful interference with such property.
Cook’s position is that Trimble entered his home by way of a stolen garage door opener and that she immediately, and without provocation, physically assaulted him, which included macing him directly in the eyes. Valentini will argue that Trimble tried to extort money from Cook in the gap of a year between the incident and the filing of the complaint, which would thus explain the delay.
Trimble’s story differs from Cook’s in that she claims that she was at his residence to pick up her belongings and that Cook grabbed her and slammed her down, concussing her. She does not deny spraying Cook with mace but argues that it was done to defend herself against the bigger and stronger football player.
Interestingly, the police were never contacted by either party in the wake of the incident. That could explain why no criminal charges have been brought by authorities. However, this matter is now more than merely a civil issue. The National Football League will certainly conduct its own investigation into the matter, where the Commissioner’s Office tends to serve as judge and jury.
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Darren Heitner is the founder of Heitner Legal. He is the author of How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, published by the American Bar Association, and is an adjunct professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. You can reach him by email at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @DarrenHeitner.