Bush faces suit; NCAA next

[Wolf]

Former USC and Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush and his family are being sued by the co-founder of a failed sports marketing agency, according to a filing Tuesday in San Diego County Court.

The lawsuit, filed by attorneys for New Era Sports & Entertainment co-founder Lloyd Lake, alleges Bush and his family failed to repay a wide array of benefits they received from New Era while Bush played for the Trojans. One of Lake's attorney's, Paul Wong, said that in addition to filing the suit, Lake has agreed to meet with NCAA investigators this week to discuss Bush's involvement with New Era Sports.

"I believe the complaint speaks for itself," Wong said. "… We're looking forward to meeting with the NCAA on Friday. Beyond that, I'm not at liberty to discuss any details."

Bush's attorney, David Cornwell, did not return a phone message seeking comment.

Tuesday's filing purports that from November 2004 through January 2006, Bush and his family received cash, a vehicle and shelter as well as labor, material and services tied to New Era Sports – the agency that expected to represent the USC star when he declared for the NFL draft. The suit places the total value of the benefits extended to Bush, now in his second season with the New Orleans Saints, and his family at just over $291,000.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?s...yhoo&type=lgns

wow, "agent" had no problem doing what he was doing while the kid was in school guess now that money is tight .........

[powerfuldragon]

Originally Posted by Reggie Bush (probably)

I have no idea what my parents did while i was attending USC. What they did in an attempt to secure my future did not involve me in any way.

maybe?

[swtbound07]

Originally Posted by Reggie Bush

Use Visa!

in reality.

[nunusguy]

The deliberately preferential treatment by the NCAA for
Bush and USC on this whole matter is so blatantly obvious its almost laughable.
They have been foot-dragging on this thing for something like 2 years now, when the "alleged" infractions occured.

[Texans_Chick]

From now on, you have to refer to Bush as Reginald.

So, when are the feds going to come after him and his family for not paying taxes on this stuff?

[Yankee_In_TX]

Originally Posted by Wolf

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?s...yhoo&type=lgns

wow, "agent" had no problem doing what he was doing while the kid was in school guess now that money is tight .........

Yup, schmuck.

[tulexan]

Should be an interesting meeting with the NCAA, I wonder if he is going to turn over any evidence to prove that Reggie received serious cash from him

[Specnatz]

Not sure where to post this, here or NCAA.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;_...yhoo&type=lgns

NCAA has heard recordings of an improper deal between failed agent, Lloyd Lake, and Reggie Bush.

A meeting took place on Tuesday evening and lasted over 6 hours.

[prostock101]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

The deliberately preferential treatment by the NCAA for
Bush and USC on this whole matter is so blatantly obvious its almost laughable.
They have been foot-dragging on this thing for something like 2 years now, when the "alleged" infractions occured.

Exactly. The NCAA waited about 2 seconds before they hammered those two players at Oklahoma last year. I guess the reality of seeing two national championships and a Heisman taken away from their golden boy is going to be hard to swallow......

[nunusguy]

Halfway through his second season in the NFL, Reggie Bush already ranks among the most recognizable and profitable faces in the league.
For that he owes thanks to Mike Ornstein, the sports marketing agent who guided him to millions of dollars in endorsement contracts for products ranging from sneakers to submarine sandwiches.
Ornstein is also the man Bush fired last week.
*
Sources say that Ornstein, worried about public relations fallout, argued for bringing the matter to a quiet end.
Settlement proposals in the case date to at least the spring of 2006, a few days before the NFL draft. With Houston holding the first pick, an attorney for the erstwhile marketers, Michael Michaels and Lloyd Lake, told the Bush camp that Texans General Manager Charley Casserly had been calling to ask about the matter.
No deal was made and the Texans ultimately passed over Bush in favor of defensive lineman Mario Williams. Bush went second to the New Orleans Saints.
Later, Bush settled only with Michaels, paying him $200,000 to $300,000.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/footba...nes-sports-nfl

[badboy]

I think Bush and the agent/marketers/whatever should immediately go to jail for violating NCAA sanctions.

[Yankee_In_TX]

Originally Posted by badboy

I think Bush and the agent/marketers/whatever should immediately go to jail for violating NCAA sanctions.

I haven't read this whole thread, but no one has done anything against the law?

[Yankee_In_TX]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

With Houston holding the first pick, an attorney for the erstwhile marketers, Michael Michaels and Lloyd Lake, told the Bush camp that Texans General Manager Charley Casserly had been calling to ask about the matter.

Later, Bush settled only with Michaels, paying him $200,000 to $300,000.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/footba...nes-sports-nfl

Hrrmmmm.....

[Texans_Chick]

Originally Posted by Yankee_In_TX

I haven't read this whole thread, but no one has done anything against the law?

One rumor I heard from an ok source is that one of the concerns that the Texans had at the time was that if Bush received money without paying taxes on it, that is a federal offense.

Of course, whether the feds prosecute anything is completely discretionary, but the best thing that Bush did after becoming a Saint was to get involved in the community. The nicer guy you are, the less likely they will come after you.

[hollywood_texan]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

One rumor I heard from an ok source is that one of the concerns that the Texans had at the time was that if Bush received money without paying taxes on it, that is a federal offense.

Of course, whether the feds prosecute anything is completely discretionary, but the best thing that Bush did after becoming a Saint was to get involved in the community. The nicer guy you are, the less likely they will come after you.

Tax evasion is one thing, which is knowingly setting up a transaction to not pay taxes.

There are varying degrees of not paying taxes. Making poor business decisions does not necessarily mean tax evasion and jail time. You still owe the the taxes, with any associated penalties, and the Feds make seize some property, but that is where the line is drawn. It's a big step to go to jail time on not paying taxes.

I don't know the specifics of Reggie's circumstances, but I seriously doubt he would do any jail time regarding the related tax on these financial transactions. Besides, he didn't receive the financial benefit, his mother and step-father did. So, the Feds probably won't go after him in regards to the financial benefit and associated taxes.

Reggie's issues seem to be NCAA eligibility for the years 2004 and 2005.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by hollywood_texan

Reggie's issues seem to be NCAA eligibility for the years 2004 and 2005.

That's really the point here. Establishing a tax liability and tax evasion are 2 entirely different things, and if its established that Bush received income from his X-agent while still at USC, well then end of story because his Heisman trophy and USCs records including one or 2 national championships are no longer. Just like Bushs goodwill and his marketability which means he loses lots & lots of dollars.

[Wolf]

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;_...yhoo&type=lgns

SAN DIEGO – An attorney for Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush filed a motion this week acknowledging that the running back’s family reached a financial settlement with a financier of a would-be marketing agency that attempted to recruit Bush while he was at the University of Southern California.

The settlement with Michael Michaels of now defunct New Era Sports & Entertainment, first reported by Yahoo! Sports in April 2007, was for $300,000.

The motion to settle the case through arbitration was revealed Thursday during what was scheduled to be a deposition of New Era partner Lloyd Lake. Lake has filed a civil lawsuit against Bush and his family seeking $300,000 for cash and gifts Lake said he provided while Bush played for the Trojans.

Proceedings halted less than 10 minutes after Lake’s deposition was to begin. Bush’s attorney David Cornwell said the motion was to compel Lake to adhere to the terms of the settlement reached between Michaels and Bush’s parents – LaMar and Denise Griffin.

An irritated Superior Court Judge Joan M. Lewis admonished both sides, but ultimately agreed to postpone all depositions in the case and schedule a hearing for Aug. 1 to discuss the motion.

Cornwell said the settlement with Michaels included Bush as an “intended beneficiary” of Michaels, releasing the family of any liabilities. A copy of the settlement filed with the court was heavily edited, removing almost all detail of the transaction.

“They’re conceding that they received this money,” Lake’s attorney Brian Watkins said. “But now their argument is that: ‘We got this money, but we paid it back already. We paid it to Michaels and that satisfied Lloyd’s debts.”

Lake was more succinct.

[CloakNNNdagger]

“It's not denial. I'm just selective about the reality I accept.”

Calvin and Hobbes

[nunusguy]

"Lake's attorneys said they suspect Bush's side is pushing for private arbitration suddenly because if Michaels would have given his deposition Monday as scheduled, he would have corroborated Lake's claims. It also could have created a record for the NCAA.
Cornwell said they are making the arbitration move now because Lake only recently asserted in discovery documents that his claims arose out of a partnership with Michaels, making it fall under the scope of the settlement.
In other court documents, Lake's attorneys detail dates of various payment amounts to Bush and family, including $13,000 for a new Chevy Impala in February 2005. They also say Lake, Michaels and Bush drove around the San Diego area in 2005 looking to buy a house, with the family ultimately picking the one in Spring Valley."
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports...9-1s6bush.html
********************
I dunno what's left for the NCAA to do but tell Bush he needs to return the Heisman and USC needs to be put on probation ? How could it be any more obvious ?

[cuppacoffee]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

"Lake's attorneys said they suspect Bush's side is pushing for private arbitration suddenly because if Michaels would have given his deposition Monday as scheduled, he would have corroborated Lake's claims. It also could have created a record for the NCAA.
Cornwell said they are making the arbitration move now because Lake only recently asserted in discovery documents that his claims arose out of a partnership with Michaels, making it fall under the scope of the settlement.
In other court documents, Lake's attorneys detail dates of various payment amounts to Bush and family, including $13,000 for a new Chevy Impala in February 2005. They also say Lake, Michaels and Bush drove around the San Diego area in 2005 looking to buy a house, with the family ultimately picking the one in Spring Valley."
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports...9-1s6bush.html
********************
I dunno what's left for the NCAA to do but tell Bush he needs to return the Heisman and USC needs to be put on probation ? How could it be any more obvious ?

The eunuchs who rule the NCAA will do nothing.

Unless you are the NorthWestCentralState of Alaska Eskimos and you get caught throwing snowballs at the oppositions bus.