Saints linebacker had filed the defamation suit last May
Federal Judge Helen "Ginger" Berrigan has dimissed the defamation lawsuit filed in May against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell by Jonathan Vilma.
In her ruling, Berrigan wrote, "Even though this matter has been pending only since May of this year, it feels as protracted and painful as the Saints' season itself and calls for closure," Channel 4 television reported.
The Saints linebacker had alleged that Goodell had damaged his reputation with comments he made about Vilma in the wake of the league's investigation of the Saints bounty program.
Goodell initially said the linebacker was a ringleader of the program. Berrigan said Vilma failed to prove that Goodell made his statements with "actual malice."
Goodell had suspended Vilma for a season, but the suspension was vacated by former NFL Commissioner, Paul Tagliabue. Vilma decided to pursue the litigation after Tagliabue rendered his decision.
The lawsuit sought unspecified monetary damages.
