Attorney for Favre in MS welfare scandal lawsuit removed from case

An attorney representing former NFL quarterback Brett Favre in a civil lawsuit against the Mississippi Department of Human Services has been removed from Favre's legal team by a Hinds County circuit judge.

Judge Faye Peterson in a Thursday filing removed one of Favre's New York-based attorneys, Daniel Koevary, for violating state court procedures several times since being brought onto Favre's legal team.

Specifically, Peterson recalled several times Koevary called hearings that either had nothing to do with the case or dealt in matters outside of the court's jurisdiction. He also apparently used information collected in discovery as a strategy to scrutinize others.

"It appeared that information obtained in discovery seemed to be used as a tactic to embarrass and bring scrutiny upon third parties who were not involved in the action for reasons this court could not fathom," Peterson wrote in her July 11 filing.

The lawsuit was filed by the Mississippi Department of Human Services in 2022 against against Favre and more than three dozen others individuals, companies and other groups.

The lawsuit seeks to claw back millions in misspent welfare funds that were meant to help the state's poorest populations. Instead, according to a 2020 audit report from State Auditor Shad White and several subsequent reports, those funds went to several wealthy people and groups for various reasons unrelated to their intention. Five million dollars of it went to building a volleyball stadium at the University of Southern Mississippi.

More on TANF caseUS House wants Gov. Tate Reeves to release legal payments made in Miss. Welfare Scandal

Favre himself repaid $500,000 to the state in May 2020 and $600,000 in October 2021. However, White said in February that Favre still owes more than $729,000 because of growing interest in the funds he initially owed.

Two other defendants in the case, Nancy and Zachary New, pleaded guilty in 2022 on several charges, including bribing a public official, fraud against the government and wire fraud, among others.

Read about Favre V. WhiteSee why the MS Auditor is demanding Brett Favre repay $729,790 in countersuit

According to the court filings, the case is still in discovery, and no trial date or court hearings have been scheduled at this time.

Koevary did not immediately respond to calls and messages seeking comment on his removal from the case.

Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.