After failing to qualify, Vendt sues swimsuit maker
Former Member
sports.espn.go.com/.../story
Less than a week after failing to qualify for an individual event at the U.S. swimming trials, Olympian Erik Vendt filed a countersuit Thursday against a California company that claims he broke his contract by choosing to wear a rival swimsuit.
Vendt made his own breach-of-contract claims against TYR Sport in the federal lawsuit filed in California. He also sued the company for slander, alleging that comments made by its attorney, Larry Hilton, have cost the swimmer other endorsement deals.
TYR went to federal court in May with an antitrust case that claims USA Swimming has been working with Speedo to ensure all Americans wear that company's LZR Racer suit at the Beijing Olympics, even if they have deals with other companies such as TYR.
Also named in the suit were U.S. head coach and general manager Mark Schubert, who has openly touted the benefits of the Speedo suit while also working as a paid spokesman for the company, and Vendt, who had an endorsement deal with TYR but switched to the LZR Racer this year.
From the article, Vendt invoked the clause that allowed him to swim in a competitor's suit if Tyr failed to provide one of equal quality, and Tyr dropped its sponsorship 3 days later, and Tyr's attorney made some snarky remarks publicly.
Dunno what went on behind the scenes, as I think others have been able to swim in the LZR while under contract to other swim cos. without an eruption of hostilities, suits, and countersuits. (My impression...)
But part of Vendt's suit says he had tried the FastPro and found it better than what Tyr could offer some months ago, so why didn't he negotiate an exit then?
:dunno:
Oh well. 'S life.
VB
From the article, Vendt invoked the clause that allowed him to swim in a competitor's suit if Tyr failed to provide one of equal quality, and Tyr dropped its sponsorship 3 days later, and Tyr's attorney made some snarky remarks publicly.
Dunno what went on behind the scenes, as I think others have been able to swim in the LZR while under contract to other swim cos. without an eruption of hostilities, suits, and countersuits. (My impression...)
But part of Vendt's suit says he had tried the FastPro and found it better than what Tyr could offer some months ago, so why didn't he negotiate an exit then?
:dunno:
Oh well. 'S life.
VB
