Dallas Judge Agrees with Lance Armstrong in Legal Case announced by Herman Howry &
Breen L.L.P.
AUSTIN, TX - January 10, 2005 /Send2Press Newswire/ -- Austin resident and six-time Tour
de France winner Lance Armstrong insists he has always played by the rules. Last week, a
Dallas district court judge ordered that a sport promotion company involved in a legal case
with Armstrong do the same.
Judge Adolph Canales disqualified French lawyer Thibault de Montbrial, an arbitrator
appointed by SCA Promotions in a case brought against SCA by Armstrong and his team
owner, Tailwind Sports. In 2004, SCA refused to pay $5 million of a $10 million performance
award Armstrong earned by winning six consecutive Tours de France. SCA cited rumors of
performance enhancement by Armstrong, despite exhaustive testing at the 2004 Tour and
prompt payment of the remaining $5 million of the performance award by two other insurers.
SCA insured $3 million and $1.5 million Armstrong performance awards in 2002 and 2003,
respectively, and honored its obligation in both years.
Judge Canales agreed with Armstrong's attorney Tim Herman that arbitrator Montbrial had a
clear and ongoing conflict of interest in the case and that his appointment violated the
provisions of American Arbitration Association rules which require that all arbitrators be
"impartial and independent." Montbrial represents an author and publisher who are both
defendants in a libel and slander suit brought by Armstrong in France. Armstrong and
Tailwind had asked Judge Canales to disqualify Montbrial.
Attorney Herman argued that SCA's appointment of Montbrial "clearly demonstrated its bad
faith in refusing to pay what it owes and made a mockery of the arbitration process." The
order striking Montbrial agreed, finding that the evidence revealed "clear, present and
ongoing conflict of interest" and that the appointment would "unduly prolong and hinder the
efficient conduct of the arbitration proceeding." SCA was given until February 1 to appoint a
new arbitrator.
When SCA refused to pay its share of Armstrong's 2004 performance award, Armstrong
invoked the contract's arbitration clause in early September. He confirmed that he had
"furnished the Tour de France testing protocols and proof of compliance to SCA on August
16, 2004, and again in September shortly after SCA requested test results." The arbitration
process was originally to be conducted by 3 arbitrators, one selected by each party and the
third selected by both parties together or by the court. Armstrong had appointed Ted Lyon, a
former Senator and highly-regarded Dallas lawyer with whom neither he nor his attorneys had
any relationship. SCA then appointed Montbrial.
Tailwind purchased the insurance contract with SCA for $420,000 before the 2001 Tour de
France, after Armstrong had already won the Tour twice consecutively. To earn the $5
million award under the contract in question, Armstrong had to win another four consecutive
Tours, a feat which had never been accomplished.
Until now.
More information:
http://www.hermanhowry.com
****
SCA promotions anser sig att ha 5 miljoner dollar att vinna om de kan få folk att tro på rykten att Lance har dopat sig, och de har samma advokat som både författaren av "L.A. Confidential" och bokförlaget.
