JonCJG
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POSTED 6:04 a.m. EDT, April 28, 2006
MICHAELS PLANNING TO SUE BUSH FAMILY FOR FRAUD
The story has finally come full circle. As we first heard the rumors more than two weeks ago, the owner of the house in which Reggie Bush's family was living planned to go public regarding issues relating to their residence in the house -- and the decision of Bush not to retain the owner of the house to be his marketing representative.
Now, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Michael Michaels claims that Bush's family owes him $54,000 in unpaid rent -- and that Michaels' lawyer is drawing up a $3.2 million lawsuit against Bush's parents, and possibly Bush himself, for fraud.
Michaels, who had nothing to say in the early stages of this story, claims that Bush's parents agreed to pay $4,500 per month in rent. Given that Michaels alleges that he is owed $54,000 in rent, this means that Bush's parents didn't pay rent for a full year.
Michaels told the Union-Tribune that when Bush's family failed to pay the first few months' rent, they said they would pay when Bush turned pro.
Though it's unclear whether the promise to pay when Bush "turned pro" meant that they'd pay the rent when Bush declares that he's entering the draft or when he actually gets paid, the Union-Tribune reports that the relationship deteriorated because Bush didn't retain Michaels' fledgling marketing firm. So, on April 3, Michaels' lawyer sent Bush's family a letter demanding that they vacate the premises.
The family didn't leave until after reporters started asking questions about the arrangement.
But it's one thing to claim that Bush's family stiffed Michaels for rent. It's quite another to allege fraud, which connotes that Bush's family made an intentional misrepresentation to Michaels, on which he relied to his financial detriment.
A misrepresentation such as, "Yeah, Reggie will hire you to handle his marketing."
Indeed, Michaels' lawyer told the Union-Tribune that Michaels and partner Lloyd Lake have $300,000 in out-of-pocket expenses, and that "Michaels and [Lake incurred additional expenses associated with starting the marketing agency."
Here's the key, in our view -- Michaels claims that "he was approached by Bush's stepfather, LaMar Griffin, and Lake, who is now in federal prison in Victorville, to invest in a sports marketing company they were starting," and that "[t]hey would share ownership in the company, New Era, and Bush was to be their primary client."
So it appears, then, that Michaels believes he was duped by LaMar Griffin into spending money and allowing Bush's family to live in the house owned by Michaels pursuant to an express understanding that the marketing firm founded by Michaels and Lake would later cash in by representing Reggie.
If these allegations are true, Reggie should be spending some quality time with his Heisman, because we're now convinced that he's eventually going to have to give it to Uncle Rico.
MICHAELS PLANNING TO SUE BUSH FAMILY FOR FRAUD
The story has finally come full circle. As we first heard the rumors more than two weeks ago, the owner of the house in which Reggie Bush's family was living planned to go public regarding issues relating to their residence in the house -- and the decision of Bush not to retain the owner of the house to be his marketing representative.
Now, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Michael Michaels claims that Bush's family owes him $54,000 in unpaid rent -- and that Michaels' lawyer is drawing up a $3.2 million lawsuit against Bush's parents, and possibly Bush himself, for fraud.
Michaels, who had nothing to say in the early stages of this story, claims that Bush's parents agreed to pay $4,500 per month in rent. Given that Michaels alleges that he is owed $54,000 in rent, this means that Bush's parents didn't pay rent for a full year.
Michaels told the Union-Tribune that when Bush's family failed to pay the first few months' rent, they said they would pay when Bush turned pro.
Though it's unclear whether the promise to pay when Bush "turned pro" meant that they'd pay the rent when Bush declares that he's entering the draft or when he actually gets paid, the Union-Tribune reports that the relationship deteriorated because Bush didn't retain Michaels' fledgling marketing firm. So, on April 3, Michaels' lawyer sent Bush's family a letter demanding that they vacate the premises.
The family didn't leave until after reporters started asking questions about the arrangement.
But it's one thing to claim that Bush's family stiffed Michaels for rent. It's quite another to allege fraud, which connotes that Bush's family made an intentional misrepresentation to Michaels, on which he relied to his financial detriment.
A misrepresentation such as, "Yeah, Reggie will hire you to handle his marketing."
Indeed, Michaels' lawyer told the Union-Tribune that Michaels and partner Lloyd Lake have $300,000 in out-of-pocket expenses, and that "Michaels and [Lake incurred additional expenses associated with starting the marketing agency."
Here's the key, in our view -- Michaels claims that "he was approached by Bush's stepfather, LaMar Griffin, and Lake, who is now in federal prison in Victorville, to invest in a sports marketing company they were starting," and that "[t]hey would share ownership in the company, New Era, and Bush was to be their primary client."
So it appears, then, that Michaels believes he was duped by LaMar Griffin into spending money and allowing Bush's family to live in the house owned by Michaels pursuant to an express understanding that the marketing firm founded by Michaels and Lake would later cash in by representing Reggie.
If these allegations are true, Reggie should be spending some quality time with his Heisman, because we're now convinced that he's eventually going to have to give it to Uncle Rico.
