NASCAR driver Kurt Busch being sued by ex-management company
By LUKE MEREDITH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kurt Busch sits in his race car before practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Phoenix International Raceway, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016, in Avondale, Ariz. (Ralph Freso/AP)
In this Aug. 26, 2016, file photo, Kurt Busch, with a Monster Energy logo on the front of his fire suit, smiles before qualifications for a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway, in Brooklyn, Mich. (Paul Sancya, File/AP)
Driver Kurt Busch talks to a crew member after qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Michigan International Speedway, Friday, June 10, 2016 in Brooklyn, Mich. (Carlos Osorio/AP)
Mar 12, 2016; Avondale, AZ, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch during practice for the Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. (Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports)
Kurt Busch drives out of Turn 4 during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice at Phoenix International Raceway, Friday, March 11, 2016, in Avondale, Ariz. (Ralph Freso/AP)
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch celebrates after winning the pole for the Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas Friday, March. 4, 2016. (Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch climbs into his car before the start of qualifying for the Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas Friday, March. 4, 2016. (Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
March 15, 2015; Avondale, AZ, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch (41) during driver introductions before the CampingWorld.com 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. (Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports)
Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch (41) during practice for the CampingWorld.com 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 13, 2015. (Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports)
NASCAR driver Kurt Busch is being sued for nearly $1.5 million by his former sports management company after he terminated their relationship last March.
Sports Management Network is seeking $1.47 million in damages in the federal lawsuit filed this month in Michigan. It accuses Busch of breach of contract, fraudulent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment.
Alan Miller, Busch’s attorney, didn’t immediately return a request from The Associated Press seeking comment.
In the lawsuit, SMN said Busch owes the company $930,000 under terms of an agreement dating to 2012. SMN is also seeking $540,000 for the 2018 season.
According to the suit, Busch and SMN began working together in 2005. In 2012, SMN said it offered to reduce Busch’s payment to the company from $250,000 to $125,000 because of what it said were “various circumstances in (Busch’s) career” that would reduce the compensation they received from Busch to “a fraction” of what they previously received. Busch allegedly accepted the offer.
SMN said the parties then signed a deal that would give the agency 10 percent of Busch’s revenue from personal services agreements starting in 2013.
The agency claims that Busch lived up to the terms of the arrangement until last March, when he abruptly backed out.
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