A Florida jury on Monday awarded Jack Nicklaus $50 million in a defamation lawsuit towards the Nicklaus Corporations, owned by billionaire banker Howard Milstein.
Nicklaus, 85, filed the lawsuit in response to statements made by Milstein and different Nicklaus Firm officers in a earlier lawsuit in a New York courtroom.
Within the defamation swimsuit, Nicklaus alleged that the defendants recommended he was contemplating a $750 million deal to be the face of the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League and unfold that false declare to the media.
“It is all the time tough to show reputational injury in a defamation swimsuit, particularly for a man like Jack, as a result of it is all the time an excellent factor,” Nicklaus’ lawyer Eugene Stearns instructed ESPN on Monday. “However I believe what was vital was the controversy that arose three and a half years in the past when the corporate instructed the world that Jack had given up the PGA Tour for golf in Saudi Arabia, which was not the case. So I am glad that Jack was exonerated.”
The golfer’s legal professionals wrote in courtroom paperwork that Nicklaus Corporations officers requested the golfer to satisfy with Golf Saudi representatives in 2021 about designing a golf course in Saudi Arabia. Throughout that assembly, Nicklaus realized that Golf Saudi needed him to tackle a management position at LIV Golf.
“In response to Nicklaus, he declined the supply as a result of he was not within the supply and felt that the PGA Tour was an vital a part of his legacy. He didn’t need to be concerned if the PGA was not in favor of a brand new league,” courtroom paperwork state.
Mr. Nicklaus argued that the defendants additionally argued that Mr. Nicklaus was mentally unfit to handle his affairs and that he suffered from dementia.
“What they mentioned was, ‘We want you to remove your keys,'” Stearns mentioned. “However the mixture of all these issues was unfortunate. We’re completely happy that this can fall behind Jack quickly. We hope that the Nicklaus Corporations will do effectively as effectively. Nevertheless it was an unfortunate affair, and we hope it is over now.”
In response to the Palm Seaside Submit, a jury discovered that Nicklaus Corporations actively engaged within the misrepresentation of details that tarnished the popularity of the 18-time main champion and uncovered him to “ridicule, hatred, distrust, distrust, and contempt.”
The newspaper additionally reported {that a} jury discovered Milstein and Nicklaus Firm govt Andrew O’Brien not personally liable.
The Nicklaus Corporations introduced in Could 2007 that it had paid the legendary golfer $145 million for unique rights to his golf course design providers, in addition to advertising, promotion and branding rights.
Nicklaus resigned from the corporate in 2017, and a five-year non-compete clause in his contract was triggered, stopping him from designing golf programs himself. Mr. Nicklaus resigned from the corporate’s board of administrators in Could 2022.
Shortly thereafter, the Nicklaus Corporations sued Nicklaus and his firm, GBI Buyers, alleging tortious interference, breach of contract, and breach of judicial obligation towards Nicklaus. The criticism alleges that Nicklaus diverted alternatives from the Nicklaus Corporations for private acquire.
On the time of the lawsuit, Nicklaus mentioned in an announcement: “Howard Milstein’s allegations are false. Our relationship has been rocky at finest. There may be little query of the end result, however I don’t intend to make this a public matter if I can keep away from it.”
A Florida arbitrator dominated in July 2024 that Nicklaus is now not restricted by a non-compete clause and is free to design golf programs as he pleases.
In April, Decide Joel M. Cohen of the New York Civil Division Supreme Court docket dominated that whereas Nicklaus had the proper to make use of his identify, picture and likeness, the Nicklaus Corporations owned the emblems he had bought and will proceed to promote attire and gear bearing Nicklaus’ identify, “Golden Bear” nickname, and brand.
