Jack Nicklaus's Defamation Case Regarding LIV Golf Remains in the Judicial System
Jack Nicklaus' Defamation Battle Against Howard Milstein and Nicklaus Companies Continues Unabated
In an unexpected turn of events, Jack Nicklaus' defamation lawsuit against businessman Howard Milstein and Nicklaus Companies LLC over comments related to Nicklaus and LIV Golf is moving forward in Florida state court. The decision, made by a Florida appellate court, denied the defendants' motion to dismiss the case, based on a contractual forum selection clause that would have likely moved the trial to New York.
For those unaware, Nicklaus and Milstein have been engaged in a long-standing legal battle over a multi-document, $145 million transaction that took place in 2007. The transaction involved Nicklaus selling his company, GBI Investors, to Milstein, which in turn led to Nicklaus Companies. GBI Investors was responsible for licensing Nicklaus' intellectual property and overseeing his golf course design business.
The relationship between Nicklaus and Milstein soured over business disagreements, particularly regarding the extent to which Nicklaus could license his intellectual property for golf tournaments and other projects. In 2022, Nicklaus resigned from Nicklaus Companies' board.
The crux of the defamation lawsuit stems from allegations that Nicklaus Companies defamed Jack Nicklaus by claiming that Milstein and Nicklaus Companies had saved him from moving forward with plans to design a golf course in Saudi Arabia, potentially causing damage to his reputation. Nicklaus Companies is alleged to have suggested that he was exhibiting signs of dementia and needed to have his car keys taken away.
A spokesperson for Nicklaus Companies maintains that the company never defamed Nicklaus and that the complaint filed in New York was never intended for public dissemination. The representative also emphasized that the company still holds out hope of working with Nicklaus in the future.
Writing for himself and Judges Dorian K. Damoorgian and Ed Artau, Judge Spencer D. Levine affirmed the trial court's denial of Nicklaus Companies' motion to dismiss, asserting that there was no "nexus" between the defamation claim and the LLC agreement, which contained the forum selection clause. Instead, the Florida case will proceed, allowing Nicklaus to present his claims in court.
In a related story, the Clearinghouse's denial of NIL deals is set to be limited by arbitration, potentially affecting the future of agreements involving Nicklaus' intellectual property and licensing deals. The implications of this ruling remain to be seen, but for now, the legal battle between Jack Nicklaus and Howard Milstein and Nicklaus Companies continues to unfold in the courts.
- In a separate development unrelated to the defamation lawsuit, the sports industry is closely watching the clearinghouse's ruling on NIL deals, as it may impact future agreements involving Jack Nicklaus' intellectual property and licensing deals in the realm of sports-betting and other ventures.
- Concurrently, financial analysts are keeping a close eye on the ongoing legal battle between Jack Nicklaus and Howard Milstein and Nicklaus Companies, as the decision could potentially have far-reaching implications for business relationships and contracts in the finance and sports sectors.
