[威家] 威家性別大戰官司獲勝
威家被判違約但不需賠償
打了兩年的官司結束了
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The case began with a simple conversation about
tennis - and millions of dollars.
Two would-be promoters had big plans for tennis stars Venus and Serena
Williams, - a 2001 "Battle of the Sexes" match they claimed could have netted
about $45 million.
It all ended in a bittersweet blow for Carol Clarke and Keith Rhodes, who had
sued the sisters, their father, Richard Williams, and his company, Richard
Williams Tennis & Associates, for breach of contract.
On Thursday, after about five weeks of testimony, a jury found that Richard
Williams did indeed fraudulently represent himself in the deal - but the
panel awarded no damages.
The jury also found the sisters weren't negligent and no damages were levied
against them.
The promoters had claimed Richard Williams represented himself as his
daughters' manager when he signed an agreement committing them to the match.
He acknowledged drawing up terms of the deal, and signing it, but he insisted
he told them they would have to go through the IMG sports agency, which
represents Venus and Serena, to complete any contract. The promoters say he
made no such disclaimer. Both sisters testified that only they have authority
to approve contracts.
Richard Williams also acknowledged that he lied to the promoters when he told
them his daughters were aware of the negotiations. Both sisters testified
they knew nothing of the deal, signed no contracts and would never have
agreed to play in the match.
The lawsuit was initially filed in 2002. A first trial ended in a mistrial
last year.
"You can't always have it your way," a disappointed Rhodes said outside court
Thursday.
He said he felt "vindicated" but was also disappointed that no damages were
awarded.
"I believe that anybody reasonably should understand that if you found there
was a fraud then you have to understand there was a tremendous amount of time
and money expended," Rhodes said.
John Romano, the promoters' lawyer, said he would almost certainly appeal.
"To say that I'm disappointed would be the understatement of the century,"
said Romano, whose firm handled the case free of charge on contingency of a
win and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on litigation.
"I believe in this case, and I'm still going to fight it," Romano said.
The Williams sisters expressed relief, and said they were looking forward to
competing in the Australian Open in January.
"Venus and I would really like to thank the jury again because they really
were able to see the truth in this matter," Serena Williams said. "We just
look forward to playing better tennis now that we have these heavy things on
our hearts that are no longer on there."
Added Venus Williams: "We're ready to start a new chapter in our lives."
Despite the verdict against Richard Williams, his lawyers said they consider
the case a win.
"If this was a tennis match, it would be six-love," said Jan Michael Morris,
one of Richard Williams' lawyers.
"It's not bittersweet. It's totally sweet," added his other lawyer, David
Slutsker. "I don't care about what they say ... about fraudulent and
negligent. What really supports our claim is that they came back with zero."
"It's a win for all of us," said F. Malcolm Cunninghman, the sisters' lawyer.
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12/23 01:53, , 1F
12/23 01:53, 1F