Top NBA prospect Zion Williamson, 18, sued for $100MILLION by marketing company for a 'breach of contract'
- Former Duke basketball star Zion Williams has been countersued by a sports marketing firm for $100 million after an alleged breach of contract
- Prime Sports Marketing LLC and president Gina Ford filed a lawsuit in a Florida court, accusing Williamson and his new agency, CAA, with a breach of contract
- Williamson, 18, is currently in New York, where he is expected to be taken by the New Orleans Pelicans with the first pick in Thursday's NBA Draft
- The lawsuit accuses CAA of interfering with Prime Sports' deal with Williamson. It seeks $100 million in punitive damages against Williamson and the agency
- Williamson signed with Prime Sports in April before hiring a player agent, but filed a lawsuit last week in North Carolina to terminate that five-year contract
- The dispute centers on each firm's ability to obtain lucrative endorsement deals
- CAA 'induced' Williamson to back out, saying they're 'better suited' to get more compensation on the deals Prime Sports had pursued, according to the filing
Former Duke basketball star Zion Williams has been countersued by a sports marketing firm for $100 million after an alleged breach of contract.
Prime Sports Marketing LLC and company president Gina Ford filed a lawsuit Wednesday in a Florida court, accusing Williamson and the agency now representing him of breach of contract.
Williamson, 18, is currently in New York, where he is expected to be taken by the New Orleans Pelicans with the first pick in Thursday's NBA Draft.
The lawsuit cites numerous claims, including accusing Creative Artists Agency LLC of interfering with Prime Sports' deal with Williamson. It seeks $100 million in punitive damages against Williamson, CAA and two CAA employees.
Williamson signed with Prime Sports in April before hiring a player agent, but filed a lawsuit last week in North Carolina to terminate that five-year contract after moving to CAA in May.
Zion Williamson, a freshman from Duke, attends the NBA Draft media availability, Wednesday
Zion Williamson is expected to be picked first by the Pelicans at Thursday's NBA Draft
Share this article
The dispute centers on each firm's ability to obtain lucrative endorsement deals for the 6-foot-7, 285-pound potential NBA star.
Prime Sports Marketing LLC and company president Gina Ford (pictured) filed a lawsuit Wednesday in a Florida court, accusing Williamson and the agency now representing him of breach of contract
In a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday night, Ford's attorneys said she 'has worked tremendously hard to build Prime Sports Marketing into a competitive marketing and branding consulting firm while raising a family.
She's deeply saddened and disappointed that what was once a promising business with Mr. Williamson has now resorted to legal action.'
According to Williamson's lawsuit, the contract didn't contain language required by the North Carolina Uniform Athlete Agents Act.
Jeffrey S. Klein, an attorney for Williamson, didn't immediately return an email Wednesday. He said last week that Prime Sports' 'continued threats ... made necessary the filing of this lawsuit.'
The Prime Sports lawsuit states it was to receive 15 percent of compensation from Williamson's marketing deals.
CAA eventually 'induced' Williamson to back out, telling his family CAA was 'better suited' and could secure more compensation on deals Prime Sports had pursued, according to the lawsuit.
Williamson's immense impact on the apparel industry was felt long before he turned pro this spring.
During a February game against rival North Carolina, Williamson's Nike busted open, leaving the power forward with a sprained knee.
In the immediate aftermath of the highly-publicized incident Nike's stock price dipped 1 percent - roughly the equivalent of a $1.1 billion loss for the apparel giant.
After the shoe incident, Puma's basketball Twitter account opportunistically responded: 'Wouldn't have happened in the Pumas.'
The tweet was later deleted.
Williamson signed with Prime Sports in April before hiring a player agent, but filed a lawsuit last week in North Carolina to terminate that five-year contract after moving to CAA in May
