Things are going so well around L.A. Galaxy Valley, even a nasty lawsuit can probably be marginalized into “unpleasant but mostly harmless distraction.”
Still, nothing good can come from this.
The L.A. Times and Reuters reported this morning that an athlete representation agency is suing the Galaxy and Major League Soccer – odd, because we always though the league’s single-entity structure meant they were legally the same thing – over Robbie Keane’s acquisition just more than a year ago.
The bottom line here appears to be how Keane’s availability as a viable target for the MLS club came to be known by Los Angeles.
Real Time International Ltd (RTI), a consulting and recruiting firm, is seeking $385,000 for its alleged role in identifying Keane. The club subsequently negotiated $5.7 million transfer from England’s Tottenham Hotspur for the high profile Irish international striker.
No one wants to pay frivolous lawsuits, of course. Not saying this one is … that’s for the courts to decide. But considering Keane’s $3.4 million salary, the amount in question seems a relative pittance – especially considering anything unflattering to the league that could come tumbling out of a lawsuit.
-
- stoehrst - Sep 17, 2012 at 11:00 AM
-
Whether or not this case has merit, it’ll get settled. The overwhelming majority of cases do, and it will likely be settled for less than the claimed amount, unless RTI has really good documents and records indicating the exact monies owed. At that price point, it will actually cost MLS more money in legal fees to litigate the case and win than it will to just say “sign a non-disclosure, and we’ll settle at $200k” or something like that.
-
Play
Video: Police clash with protesters in Brazil
-
Play
Video: Highlights: Sounders win in final minutes
-
Play
Video: Highlights: Revolution dismantle Galaxy
-
Play
Video: What does New York FC have to do to succeed?
-
Play
Video: The Hype: Bending the screen like Beckham
-
Play
Video: Galaxy's Rogers talks about coming out to the public
