Rory McIlroy In Court For £13m Legal Battle

Rory McIlroy has been in court in Dublin for the start of his case against his former management agency.

Fresh from winning the Dubai Desert Classic,  the Northern Irish golfer is suing Horizon Sports Media, and being countersued by them.

The £13m legal dispute could see the world number one cross-examined by lawyers.

In a bid to prevent McIlroy’s finances being made public, the judge sent both sides to arbitration last October but they failed to reach agreement.

Barring a last-minute out-of-court settlement, the case could last six weeks, with the 25-year-old in the witness box for up to 10 days.

It is expected to open with McIlroy’s lawyers outlining why they believe the original contract he signed with Horizon Sports Management in 2011 was “unconscionable”.

He claims he was coerced into the signing with the company, which also represented Graeme McDowell, shortly before a Christmas party and without legal representation.

He later came to the conclusion that the arrangement was detrimental to his interests and had cost him £4.5m in exorbitant fees to Horizon.

McIlroy also alleges Horizon made an unauthorised donation of £166,000 to UNICEF and used a first-class flight ticket to Abu Dhabi in his name.

But Horizon argue that their involvement enhanced the golfer’s career and financial security and that he owes them £1.6m in unpaid fees.

The company, which negotiated his lucrative Nike deal and other endorsements – worth an estimated £95m over five years – is countersuing him for £13m.

Horizon claimed to have discovered that McIlroy had wiped up to eight different mobile phones between 2011 and 2014, which might have contained relevant information.

Lawyers described it as “incredible for a person in his position”, but the judge accepted McIlroy’s argument that he changes phones to protect his privacy. 

The case has been deferred until Wednesday morning.

Source Article from https://uk.news.yahoo.com/rory-mcilroy-tee-off-13m-legal-battle-022806136.html

Rory McIlroy In Court For £13m Legal Battle