Prime Sports Marketing LLC has filed a lawsuit against future New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson in a Florida court. This is being seen as a drastic legal counter strike.
Future New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson is slowly becoming entangled in a legal web of lawsuits. Williamson filed suit against Prime Sports Marketing in a federal North Carolina court last Thursday. Now, Prime Sports and Gina Ford have filed suit against Williamson in Florida.
As first seen on as an AP press report on NOLA.com, Prime Sports has filed what could be seen the counter move to the pending lawsuit in North Carolina. It also appears to be the most drastic maneuver available as well.
Prime Sports was sued by Zion Williamson and his current representation in North Carolina. Prime Sports and Gina Ford had several feasible options. They could approach mediation amicably, throwing out a dollar amount and seeing if the two parties could sort this quickly.
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Not much mess, but not many billable hours for the law firms either.
The second option was to come to the table holding firm, but willing to let the mediation process play out smoothly. Plenty of hours, little mess in the news, little risk, with plenty of reward. This would be the court’s process operating as planned. What’s not to love about the justice system?
The third option was to approach mediation as an obstacle to a trial. In this case, Prime Sports would have pushed for the full $100 million, calling Williamson’s bluff. Still, a settlement could be met before trial. A trial might cost Zion games, and is the one of the riskier plays for both sides.
Prime Sports decided to play the most costly, riskiest option available. Prime Sports accused Williamson’s representation of shopping for a legal venue. Prime Sports thought the case should be in Florida, if there should be one at all.
So Prime Sports has sued Zion Williamson in Florida. Florida’s open records laws were in the news plenty during the Robert Kraft Orchid’s Spa saga. These lawsuits involving Zion will be played for a public jury well before an actual jury ever convenes.
In their view, the contract Williamson and Prime Sports signed is valid. In their chosen venue, they’ll present their case. So is their stance at this time.
The Associated Press report quoted a Prime Sports attorney saying she (Gina Ford):
"“has worked tremendously hard to build Prime Sports Marketing into a competitive marketing and branding consulting firm while raising a family. She’s deeply saddened and disappointed that what was once a promising business with Mr. Williamson has now resorted to legal action.”"
Prime Sports is suing Williamson for breach of contract and interference by Creative Artists Agency, since CAA soured Williamson on the initial contract.
Prime Sports has made their $100 million figure official, seeking punitive damages against Williamson, CAA and two CAA employees. Those two employees are likely CAA NBA agent Austin Brown and CAA Marketing Agent Lisa Metelus, as both were named in previous court documents.
These two lawsuits leave plenty of questions left unanswered. Those answers could come out to light in future court proceedings. However, we can answer how badly two marketing firms want the rights to Zion Williamson’s potential.
Enough to risk millions of dollars, and expose plenty of secrets, litigating court cases in two separate states.
And Zion Williamson has yet to even play on an NBA court for the New Orleans Pelicans. This situation is developing.