Pacquiao verdict in question?

MANILA, Philippines — Paradigm Sports Management lawyers opposing the California superior court judgment that dismissed the breach of contract case against former eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao are given up to Monday to file an objection but face a tall order since it appears the contract was invalid in the first place.

Paradigm CEO Audie Attar and Pacquiao came to terms on a contract in 2020, ceding the fighter’s exclusive worldwide rights of “all employment opportunities.” But when Pacquiao fought Yordenis Ugas in 2021, Paradigm was not in the equation. That led to Paradigm suing Pacquiao and receiving a jury decision awarding Attar’s group $5.1 million in damages. Before the decision was made in May last year, it was reported that Pacquiao’s lawyers offered a settlement but Paradigm declined. Apparently, Paradigm’s lawyers were batting for up to $10 million, including legal fees and interest.

Pacquiao’s lawyers initially were from the Kinsella, Holley, Isser, Kump and Steinsapir firm of Los Angeles but withdrew in 2022, leaving the fighter without legal representation for about eight months. Then, the California law firm of Haight, Brown and Bonesteel came on board a week before the first trial date. Bruce Cleeland took the lead for Pacquiao’s new legal team with assistance from Jason Aniel. Pacquiao took a knockdown when an Orange County jury ruled in Paradigm’s favor but his lawyers filed a motion for judgment, arguing that Paradigm wasn’t licensed as a manager to execute a contract. Last July 1, California superior court judge Walter Schwarm ruled that the contract was invalid so there could not be a breach.

“It was a long two years, an uphill battle,” said Aniel. “This decision was the second phase of trial while the first phase was the jury trial. Because the judge made a decision that the contract is void as illegal, the jury verdict will not be included in the final judgment. The jury decided the facts and where there was a breach of contract. Then, the judge decided whether that contract was illegal.”

The objection period is 15 days from July 1.  If Paradigm objects, the judge has a few weeks to consider it but once the judgment is final, the decision may be appealed with the process usually taking up to two years. “Parties have a short period of time to file an objection and once that period passes, the judge will sign off the tentative judgment and submit a final judgment,” said Aniel. “Assuming a final judgment is appealed, Manny can fight freely in the US without any threat or interference from Paradigm. This was the turn from before when Paradigm threatened Manny and anyone he potentially worked with that they would seize any earnings from a fight.”