Rory McIlroy's Court Battle with Horizon Sports

[mvmac]

Rory must spend a lot of time resetting his 8 phones, when does he have time to practice?

Quote:

Horizon Sports, as part of its on-going legal battle with Rory McIlroy , says McIlroy “wiped clean” up to eight mobile phones, the Irish Times is reporting .

Horizon maintains that the phones may have contained information important to McIlroy’s lawsuit against his former management company and that the “factory resetting” of phones was to deliberately destroy data, the Irish Times reports.

McIlroy, in an affidavit sworn in Palm Beach, Fla., said he was not advised by his legal team to back up material before resetting his phones and that he changed them regularly to have the most up-to-date model and to avoid calls from journalists.

Horizon’s attorneys still want the phones to have them forensically inspected, according to the Times.

McIlroy is seeking to terminate his five-year agreement Horizon Sports in what he called a “limiting” deal with the company. He said he was coaxed into signing the agreement, in 2011, and it cost him around $6.8 million in fees. Horizon has countersued for $2.4 million in unpaid fees.

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2014/12/10/rory-trialfireworks-when-the-case-goes-to-trial.html

Quote:

Brian Keogh of the Irish Golf Desk spent the last two days setting in Court 18 listening to the lawyers representing Rory McIlroy and Horizon Sports Management bickering over bricked phones.


His takeaway?

It took four hours of court time to get through Day One of the business at hand and one thing emerged quite clearly — a 6-8 week trial with gentlemen such as these asking the questions will be no picnic for anyone concerned.

So in other words, for the Rory true believers who have tried to ignore the sheer stupidity of their man entering a trial in the weeks prior to the Masters, this is not good news.

[Yukari]

This law suit can be a major distraction for Rory - especially for his pursuit of career grand slam.

Hope both sides have common sense to settle this thing rather than a drag-out court fight.  The only winner in any drag-out court battle are the lawyers, IMHO.

[Spitfisher]

This law suit can be a major distraction for Rory - especially for his pursuit of career grand slam.

Hope both sides have common sense to settle this thing rather than a drag-out court fight.  The only winner in any drag-out court battle are the lawyers, IMHO.

Minor inconvenience at best, When you make that much money that's what lawyers are for, "take care of this please, keep me posted, let me know the outcome".

I can assure you he is not sitting in a court room, nor directly involved in day to day dialog.  He'll gets an update and an occasional text. The lawyers are posturing each of their clients position, waiting for 1 side to compromise- after all its about money, rights and risk management.

[mvmac]

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2014/12/11/rorys-three-closest-confidants-called-out-in-case.html

Tim Healy reports on day three of the pre-trial proceedings in Rory McIlroy v. Horizon andthe defense will be claiming that McIlroy's father along with two eventual employees of McIlroy, including Sean O'Flaherty who worked for Horizon at the time of the breakup,"made a concerted effort" to "destabilize" the partnership.

Healy writes:

Those people included consultant Donal Casey, who later became CEO of Rory McIlroy Inc, it was claimed.

They included the golfer's personal assistant Sean O'Flaherty, and his father Gerry McIlroy, the court was told by Maurice Collins SC, for Horizon Sports Management Ltd and two other companies.

He said: "It is a central part of my clients' case that in the period subsequent to January 2013, Mr Casey, Mr O'Flaherty and Gerry McIlroy made a concerted effort to destabilised the relationship between Rory McIlroy and Horizon."

The judge's decision on the mobile-phone-wiping-to-avoid-journalists issue will be given later.

[Deryck Griffith]

Considering the scale of money that's involved here, I don't know why Rory just doesn't settle with Horizon for the 2M or so they want to make it go away and just move on with his life...

If this drags on for much longer, I'm sure the Lawyer fees won't fall far from that amount anyway?

[Big C]

There are people out there who will fight to the bitter end on principle, even when it's not to their benefit financially. In an era where everyone is encouraged to settle, I have a certain begrudging respect for people who will see something through.

Truth be told, Rory probably doesn't care about the money -  his concern should be the emotional toll a lingering lawsuit has on his mental state and his ability to play top tier golf

[Deryck Griffith]

Truth be told, Rory probably doesn't care about the money -  his concern should be the emotional toll a lingering lawsuit has on his mental state and his ability to play top tier golf

It is this part that I am concerned with.

And in reality, as it pertains to seeing it through and the principle of it all, at the end of the day, the golfing public wasn't fully aware of all of that was happening, the golfing public really doesn't give a damn and lastly with it being fully publicized, it kind of in a way has been brought onto himself and now he, and only he will have to deal with it while trying to change golf history.  So if he truly doesn't care about the money as you say, pay the settlement.  Horizon has lost anyway because one of the greatest players in history is no longer their client.

It's like a divorce and what someone told me one time who had a friend that went through a TERRIBLE and expensive one - Find out immediately what she wants and throw a little more on top just for good measure to make it completely go away.  In the long run, you will be MUCH better off and it's cheaper (I've never been married but thought it was great advice, lol)

[billchao]

Rory has apparently settled with Horizon.

http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/rory-mcilroy-settles-court-dispute-nearly-30-million

Quote:

There are conflicting reports over the amount that McIlroy will pay Horizon, but an Irish Times story puts the figure at "more than $25 million and possibly up to $30 million, plus costs." Legal fees have been estimated to be around $4 million.

McIlroy and Horizon released a joint statement outside the Dublin courtroom: “The legal dispute between the two has been settled to the satisfaction of both parties who wish each other well for the future. The parties will be making no further comment.”

McIlroy had arrived in court Tuesday for what was expected to be an 8-week legal battle, but lawyers for both sides immediately asked for an adjournment and began private negotiations. The world number one, who just last week described the wrangle as "a very tedious and nasty process," remained with his legal team late into the night until a settlement was agreed. McIlroy was not present in court Wednesday. This morning he posted an Instagram photo from inside his private jet at Dublin airport, from where he was flying to his home in Florida to prepare for his next start at the Honda Classic.

Good for him to get that out of the way so he can focus on his golf.

[Abu3baid]

Good for him, no need to keep that cloud over his head.. I hope it was a learning experience as well to make sure he gets the right people around him! I wish him luck!

[nevets88]

Rory has apparently settled with Horizon. [URL=http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/rory-mcilroy-settles-court-dispute-nearly-30-million]http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/rory-mcilroy-settles-court-dispute-nearly-30-million[/URL] [QUOTE url="http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/rory-mcilroy-to-pay-horizon-in-excess-of-25m-to-settle-dispute-1.2090885%E2%80%9D"]

There are conflicting reports over the amount that McIlroy will pay Horizon, but [COLOR=0E66AD][URL=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/rory-mcilroy-to-pay-horizon-in-excess-of-25m-to-settle-dispute-1.2090885%E2%80%9D]an Irish Times story[/URL][/COLOR] puts the figure at "more than $25 million and possibly up to $30 million, plus costs." Legal fees have been estimated to be around $4 million.

McIlroy and Horizon released a joint statement outside the Dublin courtroom: “The legal dispute between the two has been settled to the satisfaction of both parties who wish each other well for the future. The parties will be making no further comment.”

McIlroy had arrived in court Tuesday for what was expected to be an 8-week legal battle, but lawyers for both sides immediately asked for an adjournment and began private negotiations. The world number one, who just last week described the wrangle as "a very tedious and nasty process," remained with his legal team late into the night until a settlement was agreed. McIlroy was not present in court Wednesday. This morning he posted an Instagram photo from inside his private jet at Dublin airport, from where he was flying to his home in Florida to prepare for his next start at the Honda Classic.

[/QUOTE] Good for him to get that out of the way so he can focus on his golf.

Maybe it was just the press sources I read, but the media gave me the impression this had a good chance to be a long drawn out thing and boom, it's settled. My take what the press anticipates w/a grain of salt senses must of been broken?

[billchao]

Maybe it was just the press sources I read, but the media gave me the impression this had a good chance to be a long drawn out thing and boom, it's settled. My take what the press anticipates w/a grain of salt senses must of been broken?

It would have been, if he tried to fight it in court. I think he was advised to pay these people and focus on golf.

[nevets88]

[quote name="nevets88" url="/t/78590/rory-mcilroys-court-battle-with-horizon-sports#post_1102516"] Maybe it was just the press sources I read, but the media gave me the impression this had a good chance to be a long drawn out thing and boom, it's settled. My take what the press anticipates w/a grain of salt senses must of been broken?

It would have been, if he tried to fight it in court. I think he was advised to pay these people and focus on golf.[/quote] I'm grateful because I hate reading about courtroom dramas, so boring. I hear the word Horizon and I have to stifle a yawn.

[Crim]

$30,000,000....jesus christ, that sucks. Maybe it's principle, but does anyone honestly believe Horizon Sports did even close to 30 million dollars worth of work for Rory?

I guess I'm pretty ignorant to the whole case and what they do though. Did they get him the Nike deal?

[nevets88]

Maybe there's a lawyer/agent here who can give us the layman's version. I am a total ignoramus when it comes to pro sports contracts but don't agents get like 5% of endorsement deals? Or is it less? That's 10m based on 200m Nike endorsement alone. How did Horizon have enough leverage to get 30m from McIlroy? I understand the war of attrition aspect and from my pov, looks like it's worth it to settle, a possible win at the Masters is worth it, but this whole incident is a mystery to me, why he kept switching agents.

[billchao]

Maybe there's a lawyer/agent here who can give us the layman's version. I am a total ignoramus when it comes to pro sports contracts but don't agents get like 5% of endorsement deals? Or is it less? That's 10m based on 200m Nike endorsement alone. How did Horizon have enough leverage to get 30m from McIlroy?

Doesn't really matter, because they settled. Maybe Horizon earned that amount, maybe they didn't. Either way, Rory is willing to pay them that amount to go away.

[Crim]

Doesn't really matter, because they settled.

Maybe not, but some of us are still curious. $30 million seems absurd, but I guess that's just because Rory is making BANK

[billchao]

Maybe not, but some of us are still curious. $30 million seems absurd, but I guess that's just because Rory is making BANK

Fair enough. I'm more curious about where Rory is getting his legal and financial advice from, considering this is his second major lawsuit settlement is a very short amount of time.

[ScouseJohnny]

Fair enough. I'm more curious about where Rory is getting his legal and financial advice from, considering this is his second major lawsuit settlement is a very short amount of time.

No idea about the financial advice, but his advocate is one of Ireland's top barristers. He'll have settled for the reasons anyone sane settles a case - the costs and risks of protracted litigation balanced against the likelihood of achieving a better outcome if the case actually goes to court. Besides which, this was starting to get murky. Allegations of deliberate data wiping, etc - I imagine his client was in for a tough time if called to give evidence.