2.40pm
America's Cup challenger OneWorld says it has won a lawsuit against its former lawyer, rules adviser, and operations manager, Sean Reeves, and will be seeking approximately $1.5 million from the New Zealander in damages and legal costs.
OneWorld says the US Federal District Court in Seattle ruled there was no question of fact as to whether Reeves, a former member of Team New Zealand, had wrongfully breached his obligations to OneWorld by retaining and disclosing OneWorld's confidential information.
The case, which was scheduled to go to trial next April was decided summarily without the need for a trial, and Judge Barbara Rothstein found that "Reeves did in fact disclose information that was confidential thus breaching the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement without justification or excuse."
OneWorld says the Court also rejected Reeves' argument with respect to the enforceability of the liquidated damages provision in his contract and reinforced its previous ruling that the provision was reasonable and enforceable and that OneWorld was entitled to liquidated damages and legal costs.
The exact amount of the liquidated damages remains to be determined but the Court indicated that the amount should be between US$240,000 and US$314,000. OneWorld says its legal fees will amount to approximately US$500,000.
May 18, 2002
$163m at stake in Reeves dispute
February 23, 2002
Sean Reeves - the Cup's outcast
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
OneWorld wins lawsuit against Reeves
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.