AggieJohn
04-28-2006, 07:11 AM
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Michael Michaels, who owns the Spring Valley, Calif., home where Reggie Bush's family lived for nearly a year, said Thursday he will file a $300,000 lawsuit against the Bush family Friday to recoup unpaid rent and other finances given to the USC star's family.
Michaels' attorney, Brian Watkins, alleged Thursday night that Bush's mother and stepfather, Denise and LaMar Griffin, never paid rent for the home which has become the center of a joint Pacific 10 Conference and NCAA investigation. Watkins also said that Michaels was the source of funds that allowed Bush's family to travel to several USC road games last season.
Not paying rent could constitute extra benefits and a violation of NCAA rules.
According to Watkins, Michaels' involvement with the Bush family stemmed from plans put together by LaMar Griffin and Lloyd Lake, who he alleges planned to establish New Era Sports & Entertainment – with Reggie Bush as a client – in November of 2004, prior to the Trojans winning that season's national championship.
Watkins said Michaels' role in New Era Sports was that of an investor.
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"There was an agreement that they weren't supposed to live free and mooch in that house," Watkins said. "They were supposed to pay rent. But they never paid one dime. Their premise for not paying was that, 'Next month, we'll pay you. Next month we'll pay you.' Then it got to the extent where they were saying, 'Well, don't worry about it, it's all guaranteed because we're going to be owners of this marketing and agency business, we'll give it to you out of our profits.' And the money they owed Michael Michaels was guaranteed by Reggie Bush, who said, 'Yeah, don't even worry about it, it will be taken care of.'
"Twelve months passed by in that house, and not one dollar was paid."
Said Michaels: "They took advantage of me."
Watkins said that after New Era Sports & Entertainment failed as a business, Michaels sought to recoup the $300,000 in back rent and other finances he had given to the Bush family over the course of the last 12 months. He said the claims will be backed up by documents, text messages and other forms of communication collected in recent months. Watkins said he has been negotiating a settlement with Bush's lawyer, David Cornwell, for the last three months, but moved to evict the Bush family from the home last week.
"Reggie said that, oh, he found them a nicer house and that's why they moved, but the truth is I served them with an eviction notice that I can fax you a copy of," Watkins said.
Michael Michaels, who owns the Spring Valley, Calif., home where Reggie Bush's family lived for nearly a year, said Thursday he will file a $300,000 lawsuit against the Bush family Friday to recoup unpaid rent and other finances given to the USC star's family.
Michaels' attorney, Brian Watkins, alleged Thursday night that Bush's mother and stepfather, Denise and LaMar Griffin, never paid rent for the home which has become the center of a joint Pacific 10 Conference and NCAA investigation. Watkins also said that Michaels was the source of funds that allowed Bush's family to travel to several USC road games last season.
Not paying rent could constitute extra benefits and a violation of NCAA rules.
According to Watkins, Michaels' involvement with the Bush family stemmed from plans put together by LaMar Griffin and Lloyd Lake, who he alleges planned to establish New Era Sports & Entertainment – with Reggie Bush as a client – in November of 2004, prior to the Trojans winning that season's national championship.
Watkins said Michaels' role in New Era Sports was that of an investor.
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"There was an agreement that they weren't supposed to live free and mooch in that house," Watkins said. "They were supposed to pay rent. But they never paid one dime. Their premise for not paying was that, 'Next month, we'll pay you. Next month we'll pay you.' Then it got to the extent where they were saying, 'Well, don't worry about it, it's all guaranteed because we're going to be owners of this marketing and agency business, we'll give it to you out of our profits.' And the money they owed Michael Michaels was guaranteed by Reggie Bush, who said, 'Yeah, don't even worry about it, it will be taken care of.'
"Twelve months passed by in that house, and not one dollar was paid."
Said Michaels: "They took advantage of me."
Watkins said that after New Era Sports & Entertainment failed as a business, Michaels sought to recoup the $300,000 in back rent and other finances he had given to the Bush family over the course of the last 12 months. He said the claims will be backed up by documents, text messages and other forms of communication collected in recent months. Watkins said he has been negotiating a settlement with Bush's lawyer, David Cornwell, for the last three months, but moved to evict the Bush family from the home last week.
"Reggie said that, oh, he found them a nicer house and that's why they moved, but the truth is I served them with an eviction notice that I can fax you a copy of," Watkins said.