Judge Calls Jordan "Greedy"

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Link: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-on-basketball/22419728/judge-calls-michael-jordan-greedy-as-lawsuit-case-drags-on
 

Michael Jordan is seeking $5 million in damages after a grocery store included his name and number in a congratulatory advertisement in 2009, according to the Chicago Tribune.
 
On the bright side for Jordan, federal Judge Milton Shadur has already ruled that Dominck's grocery store is liable for using his name and image, but Shadur doesn't agree with the fair-market price that Jordan's lawyers have set.

 

“I thought the demand was greedy,” Shadur said of the lawsuit. The advertisement in question was included as a one-page ad in a Sports Illustrated issue applauding Jordan's induction into the Hall of Fame. The ad also included a $2-off coupon for a steak.

 

For what it's worth, Jordan's lawyers have also said that after the legal fees, any damages won would likely go to charity.

 

I'll admit, Jordan is a greedy individual but if he wants to use that $5 million in damages to make sure that Howard and Paul find their way to Charlotte; then I don't two sh*ts about how greedy he is.

[PantherAZ]

It's kind of sad that you can't congratulate someone without getting sued. The judge is right. That was greedy.

[Keith Moons Liver]

It's kind of sad that you can't congratulate someone without getting sued. The judge is right. That was greedy.

The judge ruled in his favor. The issue isn't that he is suing, he is fully justified, the issue is how much he was trying to get. As a complete non-lawyer who only reads about this kind of stuff in the news, it seems asking for a ridiculous sum and then later settling for a more reasonable amount is common practice so this whole thing sounds like no big deal to me.

[PiratePanther189]

If you think about it though, the only reason they did it was to attach their store logo to Michael Jordan. They really were trying to get customers into their doors by "congratulating" (even though it really wasn't their full mission in the ad) Michael Jordan and make customers think "wow, they like MJ, let's go get our steak there"

 

So I think MJ was warranted to sue, but as the judge said, a $5 million price tag was a bit steep.

[chknwing]

I dont think its greedy. I think he has to make an example out of someone. Jordan is a highly marketable commodity.  If this was permitted without penalty then every business would feel free to use his name/likeness to sell their products.

 

I do however think he should donate that money to charity.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

Considering how much a Michael Jordan endorsement must cost, I'd say 5 mill is actually kind of cheap.

[PiratePanther189]

Honestly, it was irresponsible of a judge to put something so derogetory into the hands of the media like that. The whole situation combined with the fact that a judge called him greedy allows the media to have a field day.

[MadHatter]

I dont think its greedy. I think he has to make an example out of someone. Jordan is a highly marketable commodity.  If this was permitted without penalty then every business would feel free to use his name/likeness to sell their products.

 

I do however think he should donate that money to charity.

This.

 

The penalty has to be steep.