Kobe Bryant Settles Lawsuit
10 Jun, 2013
Kobe Bryant reached a settlement with a New Jersey auction house that allows his mother sell a small amount of his memorabilia, while also getting an apology from his parents, who thanked him for his financial support.
Kenneth Goldin, founder of southern New Jersey-based Goldin Auctions, said Monday that his company and the Los Angeles Lakers star had reached a settlement. Through a publicist, an attorney for Bryant also confirmed the dispute had been resolved.
Citing a confidentiality agreement, Goldin wouldn’t discuss details of the settlement beyond identifying the six items to be auctioned, including two uniforms worn by Bryant at Lower Merion High School outside Philadelphia and two 2000 NBA championship rings Bryant gave to his parents.
Goldin Auctions sued in federal court last month after Bryant’s lawyers wrote the company telling it to cancel a planned auction of close to 100 items. The Los Angeles Lakers star claimed his mother, Pamela, didn’t have the right to sell the items. Bryant also filed suit against the auction company in California. A trial had been scheduled to begin next week.
Under the settlement, Goldin also will sell Bryant’s 2000 NBA All-Star game ring and his medallion and ribbon from Magic’s Roundball Classic, a high school all-star game.
In an emailed statement, Bryant’s parents wrote: “We regret our actions and statements related to the Kobe Bryant auction memorabilia. We apologize for any misunderstanding and unintended pain we may have caused our son and appreciate the financial support that he has provided to us over the years. We also would like to apologize to Goldin Auctions for their inadvertent involvement in this matter and thank them for their assistance.”
AP
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