Quote:
Originally Posted by BigRedChief
its going to get out. He’s going to sing like a bird to avoid jail. Someone else will eventually if not him. You know Nike is/was just as dirty.
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Did you read the complaint? Avenatti tells Nike he is representing an AAU coach whose contract with Nike was cut short. Avenatti demanded damages. This is legal.
Avenatti went on to say that he also had information about bribes they (allegedly - have no idea what he based this upon) paid and that Nike could avoid that information being leaked if Nike hired him and Garagos to do an internal investigation. Companies do internal investigations all the time but Avenatti made it explicit that Nike had to pay him and Garagos between $15 and $25 million to do an internal investigation so they could self-report any issues they found. Nike had already gone to the FBI and Nike lawyers were told what to ask. FBI agents had Nike officials specifically focus upon the requirement that Avenatti and Garagos do the internal investigation, again because this was clearly extortion since it was to directly benefit them instead of clients. It is legal for them to call Nike and say, "Hey, I have a client who was damaged by your company. Pay my client money and we won't sue you."
Nike went to the DOJ through their own counsel, including both in house and outside counsel. That rdisplays a lot of confidence that they would withstand an investigation. Further, while the previous federal case involved Adidas as the apparel manufacturer, it involved several schools and a myriad of witnesses. Undoubtedly federal agents asked those witnesses if they knew anything about other apparel manufacturers, such as Nike, Reebok, Under Armor and others. No cases have been brought.
Given how Avenatti's damaged his reputation by the filing of this charge and the concurrent fraud charges in California, that Nike reported this to the DOJ and that another investigation has already occurred into college BBall, Avenatti would not have anything that the federal government would want. He may sing but he will have no audience.