Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski could be deposed as part of a lawsuit involving former Blue Devil star Zion Williamson.
Williamson is being sued by Gina Ford, who runs Prime Sports Marketing. Williamson originally signed a marketing deal with Ford’s company but backed out and signed with Creative Artists Agency instead. In order to get out of his contract with Ford’s company, Williamson sued and alleged the deal was void because it violated North Carolina’s Uniform Athlete Agents Act since Prime Sports Marketing is not a registered agent there.
Well, Ford wasn’t about to accept that outcome without a legal fight. She sued back and is alleging Williamson is not protected by the Uniform Athlete Agents Act under the grounds that he accepted illegal benefits as an NCAA athlete at Duke.
In order to prove her case, Ford’s attorneys want to know where Williamson’s mother and step-father lived while he was at Duke, who owned the home, and how the home was paid for. The implication is they believe the living situation for Williamson’s parents was illegally provided.
Ford’s attorneys are threatening to go after everyone and try to depose even Coach K as they go through the case, according to SI.
Duke issued the following statement in January about the Zion allegations:
“As soon as Duke was made aware of any allegation that might have affected Zion Williamson’s eligibility, we conducted a thorough and objective investigation which was directed by individuals outside the athletics department. We found no evidence to support any allegation. Zion thrived as both a student and an athlete at Duke, and always conducted himself with integrity and purpose.”
Williamson was accused in August of accepting improper benefits from Duke and Nike.
Keeping information like this out of the public is exactly why many parties often settle lawsuits. We expect that outcome to happen here, which would spare Krzyzewski and others from being deposed.
