Monday, October 8, 2007

Wrestler Ric Flair sues S.C. auto dealer

Wrestler Ric Flair sues S.C. auto dealer
Rick Brundrett
McClatchy Newspapers

COLUMBIA --World champion professional wrestler Ric "Nature Boy" Flair would like to put a courtroom body slam on a Columbia car dealership.

In a federal lawsuit filed last week in Columbia, the 58-year-old Charlotte personality, whose real name is Richard Fliehr, contends that Stivers Automotive of Columbia Inc. through its Freedom Suzuki dealership used his name, likeness and slogans in radio, TV and print ads this year without his permission.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound-plus wrestling legend is asking for actual and punitive damages of more than $75,000 - the threshold for filing federal lawsuits when one of the parties lives out of state.

The suit was filed Thursday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Columbia; Flair was spotted later that evening on the sidelines during the football game between USC and Kentucky at Williams-Brice Stadium.

"By using his name in an unauthorized fashion and not paying for it, it lessens the value of his persona that he has cultivated both in the ring and out of the ring over 34 years," said his lawyer-agent, Eric Bland of Columbia, when contacted Thursday.

full story:
http://www.charlotte.com/business/breaking_news/story/310280.html




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