ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 20, 1995 TAG: 9512200072
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: HARRISONBURG
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
James Madison basketball coach Lefty Driesell has filed a lawsuit seeking more than $430,000 in damages from Converse Inc. after the sports apparel company canceled his promotional contract.
The lawsuit, filed Dec. 4 in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg, seeks compensatory damages of $82,500 plus interest, and punitive damages of $350,000 plus interest.
According to the lawsuit, Converse voided a three-year contract Driesell signed last year with Apex One Inc. Converse bought Apex seven months ago.
The deal with Apex called for the sports apparel company to provide James Madison with uniforms and ``related apparel,'' and Driesell was to receive promotional payments and bonuses based on the Dukes' performance. At the same time, Driesell had a shoe contract with Reebok, the coach said.
For dealing with rival Reebok, Converse voided the Apex contract with Driesell, the lawsuit alleges, forcing Driesell to scramble to outfit his team for the season.
LENGTH: Short : 30 linesby CNB