Celebrity Tom Brady Sues the NFL in Federal Court over 'Deflategate' Suspension Six weeks before the NFL season begins, Brady petitions for his suspension to be lifted By Steve Helling Published on July 29, 2015 11:00 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: G. Newman Lowrance/AP The NFL Players Association and Tom Brady have filed a federal lawsuit to vacate Brady’s four-game suspension for his role in the football tampering scandal known as “Deflategate.” In the 54-page filing obtained by PEOPLE, the NFLPA claims that the NFL improperly imposed penalties for equipment violations, which would usually call for a nominal fine. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Minnesota, also questions Commissioner Roger Goodell’s impartiality. Additionally, the suit claims that Brady should have received advance notice of disciplinary action. “Brady had no notice of the disciplinary standards that would be applied and no notice of the potential penalties,” the petition says. Brady and his union filed the suit less than a day after the NFL upheld his suspension on Tuesday. With the NFL season just six weeks away, time is of the essence. According to USA Today, the NFLPA plans to petition the court to rule before the Patriots’ season begins on Sept. 10 – or allow Brady to play until a decision is final.