Bush sued by sports marketer

[Southpaw]

Uh oh.

Bush sued by sports marketer who claims he provided cash, gifts


Oct. 31, 2007
CBSSports.com wire reports

SAN DIEGO -- A fledgling sports marketer filed a lawsuit Tuesday against former Southern California running back Reggie Bush and his parents that seeks to recoup nearly $300,000 in cash and gifts they allegedly accepted during Bush's sophomore and junior seasons.


The suit, filed in Superior Court, claims Bush and his family received $291,600 in cash, living arrangements and other benefits from Lloyd Lake between November 2004 and January 2006.

"We tried for over a year to resolve this amicably and Bush and his attorney didn't want to reach any resolution," said Lake's attorney, Brian E. Watkins. "They wanted the truth to come out. Now it's out."

Watkins said NCAA investigators are scheduled to meet with Lake on Friday in San Diego.

"We will answer their questions and provide them with documents and other evidence," Watkins said. "The lawsuit's out there. It spells it out. We've been putting the NCAA off for quite a while. We're going to agree to cooperate."

The suit comes nearly two years after allegations first surfaced and has prompted the NCAA and Pac-10 to launch their own investigation.

Bush's attorney, David Cornwell, did not immediately return a phone call or an e-mail seeking comment.

"At one time we asked for out-of-pocket costs," Watkins said. "They wouldn't even work with us at all."

Once again, Reggie Bush faces litigation in the wake of the failed New Era venture. (US Presswire)
Once again, Reggie Bush faces litigation in the wake of the failed New Era venture. (US Presswire)
Lake's lawsuit said Bush's family "had fallen on hard times financially and required immediate and significant financial assistance to support their respective lifestyles."

Lake and partner Michael Michaels have said they provided money to Bush's family as well as a home for which his family had failed to pay more than $50,000 in rent. The conflict was made public after Bush, now a New Orleans Saints running back, signed with another sports agent.

Bush, the Heisman Trophy winner as a junior in 2005, is in his second season with the Saints. He has said repeatedly that neither he nor his family did anything wrong in dealings with Michaels and Lake.

Michaels reached a settlement with Bush and his family last April.

Earlier this month, Yahoo! Sports reported that Lake planned to meet with NCAA investigators and turn over financial records and other evidence linking Bush and his family to the benefits. The website also reported it had acquired confidential e-mails from officers of New Era Sports & Entertainment, a marketing agency founded by Lake and Michaels, that shows the agency soliciting marketing and memorabilia deals on the running back's behalf.

If Bush is found to have received improper benefits, USC could be forced to forfeit games. The school could face other sanctions if it's proven that coaches knew or should have known about the alleged benefits.

Also, if Bush is found to have broken NCAA rules during his Heisman-winning season, the award could be revoked.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

 

[Russ Smith]

We kind of knew this was coming when Bush' people started to leak stories about "blackmail" by Lake. Basically Lake was saying repay the money or I go to the NCAA which I guess technically is blackmail.

We'll see what comes out of it, right now it's more bad news for Bush than USC because they really have yet to prove that USC had any knowledge or involvement in this. Bush could lose his Heisman, but it's going to take a lack of institutional control deal to really handcuff USC on this.

 

[Southpaw]

We kind of knew this was coming when Bush' people started to leak stories about "blackmail" by Lake. Basically Lake was saying repay the money or I go to the NCAA which I guess technically is blackmail.

We'll see what comes out of it, right now it's more bad news for Bush than USC because they really have yet to prove that USC had any knowledge or involvement in this. Bush could lose his Heisman, but it's going to take a lack of institutional control deal to really handcuff USC on this.

Some wouldn't call it blackmail, they would call it exerting leverage.

 

[Russ Smith]

Some wouldn't call it blackmail, they would call it exerting leverage.

Yeah in no way do I fault Lake here I think it's pretty clear that Bush or at least his stepfather, entered into an agreement and then broke it. So I have no problem at all with them now turning Bush in since he's a very wealthy kid and quite honestly I think is being a real punk about this whole thing. If he'd just paid the guy he wouldn't have gone to the NCAA, Bush' precious Heisman would be safe and Pete Carroll could go on happily with the program.

But Bush didn't want to pay any money out over it and now I kind of think he deserves to get some crap out of it.

The other way this can hurt USC is if it comes out that the real reason Bush switched from Notre Dame to USC was money but that seems unlikely. I think at this point the main issue is will Bush lose his Heisman.

 

[Southpaw]

Yeah in no way do I fault Lake here I think it's pretty clear that Bush or at least his stepfather, entered into an agreement and then broke it. So I have no problem at all with them now turning Bush in since he's a very wealthy kid and quite honestly I think is being a real punk about this whole thing. If he'd just paid the guy he wouldn't have gone to the NCAA, Bush' precious Heisman would be safe and Pete Carroll could go on happily with the program.

But Bush didn't want to pay any money out over it and now I kind of think he deserves to get some crap out of it.

The other way this can hurt USC is if it comes out that the real reason Bush switched from Notre Dame to USC was money but that seems unlikely. I think at this point the main issue is will Bush lose his Heisman.

Michael Jordan didn't think he had to pay gambling debts. He should have paid before they exerted their leverage.

 

[Russ Smith]

I guess the Yahoo story on this also says that there's some evidence that USC should have and might have known about this. Todd McNair one of the coaches apparently stayed in an expensive room with Bush (hotel room) at one point and they have receipts to prove it and that Reggie paid for it. It was like a $500 room so you'd think a coach would wonder how a kid on his team can afford it?

Also they said that there's confirmed cases of at least 2 games where Lake and Michaels were allowed to go into the USC locker room before and after the game which is of course the dreaded lack of institutional control. They quote an unnamed AD as saying that's just basic stuff 2 guys you don't know can NOT just be walking into your locker room like that.

Starting to look like there might actually be a legit case against SC.

 

[Southpaw]

I am not so sure "lack of knowlege" gives an institution immunity. Lack of institutional control includes having things go on that you should be aware of, even if you say you had no idea it was going on. If their players are running around like free agents, they have no control of their institution, as in football program.

Simple things like Joe McKnight are examples of the head coach, supposedly , not knowing what his recruitment department is doing. Matt Leinart living off campus at an expensive house with a rent free room mate. Doesn't sound like a big deal , individually, but the accumalitive efeect is "lack of institututional control".

 

[Russ Smith]

I am not so sure "lack of knowlege" gives an institution immunity. Lack of institutional control includes having things go on that you should be aware of, even if you say you had no idea it was going on. If their players are running around like free agents, they have no control of their institution, as in football program.

Simple things like Joe McKnight are examples of the head coach, supposedly , not knowing what his recruitment department is doing. Matt Leinart living off campus at an expensive house with a rent free room mate. Doesn't sound like a big deal , individually, but the accumalitive efeect is "lack of institututional control".

Jarrett paid rent just not the fair market rate, he was paying a cut rate that Matt's dad deemed appropriate but since it wasn't market rate it was an unfair advantage thus against the rules.

I agree institutional control is a broad tool the NCAA uses to catch schools they suspect are cheating.

 

[Southpaw]

Gun toting bodygurad shows up at Bush deposition

These guys play tough.

Lawyers differ on why Lake skipped giving deposition

ESPN.com news services

Updated: February 12, 2008, 11:55 PM ET


Lloyd Lake walked out on Tuesday before giving a scheduled deposition in connection with the lawsuit he filed against New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush.

The former sports marketing agent said he was intimated that Bush's legal team had private security present, Bush's lawyer, David Cornwell, told ESPN.

From the perspective of Lloyd Lake's attorney, Brian Watkins, they halted the deposition proceedings Tuesday after they saw a man who was with Cornwell flash a gun.

"He made sure we saw it," said Watkins.

Watkins told ESPN that Bush's attorneys refused to provide details about the man, such as a job description or a business card.

According to The Associated Press, Watkins said Cornwell told him the bodyguard had a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

Watkins said the man also flashed the gun to Lake in the building's lobby before the deposition.

"It's outrageous that he shows up strapped for a deposition," Watkins said. "That's outrageous conduct in the lawyer world. Come on, we're lawyers. I don't threaten people, I sue them."

Watkins said they will seek a court order to have subsequent depositions involving Lake held at a courthouse.

"Bring the facts and leave the weapons at home," Watkins told ESPN.

Cornwell also reported details of his first meeting with Watkins. Watkins told Cornwell that Lake was a gang member and that if the Bush camp did not pay off Lake, he [Watkins] could not control him. Cornwell also said that Lake made two threats against Bush in December 2007. After discussing the threats with law enforcement and private security professionals, Bush's legal team was told to take precautions when in Lake's presence.

Lake is suing for breach of contract. He claims that when Bush was at the University of Southern California, he provided the player with cash, including $13,000 to buy a Chevrolet Impala, and that his business partner, Michael Michaels, provided Bush's parents with a home for which they did not pay rent.

Michaels and Lake's proposed agency, New Era Sports and Entertainment, went defunct after Bush selected Mike Ornstein as his sports marketer. Michaels reached a settlement with Bush last year.

Watkins said Bush is scheduled to give a deposition on Feb. 25.

"They know the day of reckoning is coming," Watkins said. "They are panicking. They're resorting to this."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

 

[Russ Smith]

The irony is Bush's lawyers keep making sure everyone knows about Lake's criminal history they keep calling him an ex gang member, so for them to show up and allegedly flash a gun at Lake is pretty crazy.

 

[Skkorpion]

Soap opera supreme. Very entertaining.

 

[Southpaw]

Lawyer: Bush Skips Deposition in Sports Marketer's Laws

The saga that won't go away.

Lawyer: Bush Skips Deposition in Sports Marketer's Lawsuit


Feb 25, 9:25 PM (ET)

By BERNIE WILSON

SAN DIEGO (AP) -Reggie Bush failed to show up for a scheduled deposition on Monday, the latest twist in the civil lawsuit against the former Heisman Trophy winner who allegedly accepted cash and gifts from sports marketers during his sophomore and junior seasons at Southern California.

"He literally ran from his deposition," said Brian Watkins, the attorney for sports marketer Lloyd Lake, who is suing Bush.

Watkins said he received a fax from one of Bush's attorneys saying the New Orleans Saints' running back wouldn't be coming.

Bush's attorney, David Cornwell, declined to comment.

"I have nothing to provide for you," Cornwell said when reached on his cell phone.

Watkins requested that Bush bring extensive financial records, including those documenting the purchase of a car, as well as canceled rent checks for the suburban San Diego home where his parents lived and for a condo in Los Angeles.

Lake is seeking to recoup some $291,000 in cash and gifts the star running back and his family allegedly accepted from Lake and his former partner, Michael Michaels, while Bush was at USC.

Lake claims he gave Bush cash to buy a car and that Michaels allowed Bush's parents to live rent-free in a San Diego-area home. Lake and Michaels were trying to attract Bush as a client for their marketing firm, New Era.

Michaels settled with Bush in 2007.

The latest development came 13 days after Lake and Watkins walked out of a deposition after a man accompanying Cornwell opened his jacket to expose a pistol.

Watkins said Bush's lawyers are trying to keep transcripts of Bush's deposition from being given to the NCAA.

"The NCAA has asked for a copy of Reggie Bush's deposition transcripts. I told them we will definitely consider it," Watkins said. "They want to prevent that from happening."

The NCAA and Pac-10 are investigating whether Bush and his parents took improper benefits during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Bush has not met with NCAA and Pac-10 investigators.

Bush has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

If Bush is found retroactively ineligible, he could lose his Heisman.

If the NCAA determines that USC violated rules, the football program could have to forfeit victories from those seasons - when the Trojans won a national championship and lost in the BCS title game against Texas - and face additional penalties.

 

[Skkorpion]

The guy did not show up for a deposition? Ooo baby. This keeps getting better.

 

[arthurracoon]

I completely forgot about this...apparently its still going on.