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The drama between Texas State Sen. Royce West and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant is continuing to build from suits and countersuits, with West asking a court to bring sanctions against Bryant and his counsel. In addition to having his legal fees paid, West is asking for a $500,000 contribution to the United Negro College Fund by Bryant and the receiver's counsel, as well as calling for Bryant's countersuit to be withdrawn. Bryant's counsel from Reed Smith LLP responded to the sanctions filing by asking the court to quash a potential deposition of attorney Kenneth Broughton and bring a protective order based on attorney/client privilege. In court documents, Broughton called it "harassing litigation," designed to deny Bryant proper counsel as well as his day in court. West initially filed suit against Bryant in June, seeking between $100,000 and $200,000 for damages to a home Bryant rented in DeSoto, Texas, from West after it required nearly $60,000 in repairs. Bryant began renting the 6,400-square-foot mansion in August 2013 from West. Bryant answered with a countersuit in July, claiming West and David Wells, a former adviser and mentor who has worked with a number of Cowboys in the past, stole more than $200,000 in marketing deals and other arrangements. As part of the countersuit, Bryant's legal team claims that Wells led Bryant to West. But West contends he did not start working with Bryant until 2009 at Wells' request when the receiver was fighting to regain his eligibility at Oklahoma State.  According to West's filing, he helped resolve a lawsuit in which Bryant owed more than $600,000 in jewelry, tickets and other loans. Bryant eventually paid $475,000 with West keeping $25,000 for his services. West also defended Bryant in the domestic violence case involving Bryant's mother in which a plea agreement was reached in 2012. Bryant and West had the following text message exchange on June 22: Bryant: "I wish you thought about it before you thought it was a smart idea to go after me." West: "I wish you had personally come to me to discuss the damages done to the house." Bryant: "Naw, it's to [sic] late for that ... How can you forget about all of the [expletive] y'all put me through ... I left that (expletive) along (sic) because I wanted to forget about it ... I no longer have sympathy for y'all people ... Just know you started this."
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