Always a tough defender during his stint on the legendary Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls team, Scottie Pippen held his own against opposing counsel as the trial for his legal malpractice suit continued, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
After opposing counsel for defendant Pedersen & Houpt grilled Scottie Pippen, asking him if he feels responsible for reading contracts before signing them, he offered this curt reply:
"Yes, I do now that I realize I can't trust the people who were working for me."
Ouch. Looks like the retired NBA Hall of Fame inductee can still bring it.
But he remained cool and collected when opposing counsel fired sarcastic questions about the soured deal, perhaps on the advice of his Chicago injury lawyer.
Scottie Pippen filed a malpractice suit against the firm stemming from a 2002 deal to buy a 25 percent share in a private jet for $1 million. The deal was re-negotiated, giving him a 51 percent share for the same $1 million investment.
But what he claims he didn't realize is that he also signed off on a $5 million loan for the jet.
Although the defendant law firm produced multiple documents about the loan and signed by the former Bulls star, he claimed he was misled. The loan went into default and the plane was never chartered as intended (thus bringing in no revenue) and he ended up paying $6 million when all was said and done.
He claims that although he signed the documents, his former counsel should have policed the deal better. He also alleges that Pedersen & Houpt partner Peer Pedersen did business with the other party in the transaction, alleging a conflict of interests.
According to Scottie Pippen's attorney, the close relationship between the two parties in the transaction may have meant that due diligence was not conducted prior to the deal.
Related Resources:
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Legal Malpractice Lawsuit FAQs (FindLaw)
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Tae Bo Founder Billy Blanks' $30M Legal Malpractice Judgment Roundhouse Kicked Back to Trial Court (FindLaw's Common Law Blog)
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Call a Chicago Accident Attorney (FindLaw)
