A federal judge calls Michael Jordan’s $5 million lawsuit against a grocery chai

[stb]

Once a jerk, always a jerk...

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/federal-judge-calls-michael-jordan-5-million-lawsuit-212003601.html

[bfrombleacher]

The worst part is the ad was CONGRATULATING him!

[connor]

Yes this is a total dick move by MJ, but in fairness Dominick's isn't some small time mom and pop store they should know better.

They have a marketing department and they all know full well you can't use anyone's likeness etc. without permission and they tried to get a bit of free publicity out of MJ thinking no one would care because they didn't use his logo and it was congratulating him.

Again its **** move by MJ, but totally within his rights. And I have no sympathy for Dominick's because they should know better. No one at Dominick's was thinking "hey lets spend money on a full page newspaper ad to congratulate MJ" they were thinking we can probably sell a ton of steaks if we do this. No sympathy.

[stb]

Another example of what a jerk he is...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-jordanhall091209

[Roy H.]

The judge already ruled against the grocery chain.  Now, he needs to determine damages.  The judge thought that $5 million seemed clearly excessive, which is where the quotes come from.

I'm curious how much the chain paid for the ad?  Clearly, they thought that the ad was worth at least what it cost.  I'd probably start there.

[Celtics4ever]

With his gambling habits every penny counts.

[KGs Knee]

The grocery store is in the wrong.  If I'm a celebrity, I'd be mad too if some entity was trying to make money off my name, and I wasn't getting a cut, nor was I ever asked for my permission.

Now, $5m in damages is absurd (and I doubt the store could even pay that much), but there will be damages awarded.

[Donoghus]

I'd be peeved too if somebody was using my likeness without my permission. Not sure what was going through the Dominick's marketing people there.

The $5 million is excessive, though. He's definitely entitled to some damages, though.

[CelticConcourse]

Hmmm... I feel like I want 5 million dollars today...


"FIVE MILLION DOLLARS PLEASE"