SLAM! Sports
SLAM! Hockey
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
COLUMNS
NHL
The Teams
Full Schedule
Monthly Schedule
Standings
Statistics
Rosters
Injury list
Movement
Trades
Hits Gallery
INTERACTIVE
JUNIOR
MORE HOCKEY
ALSO ON SLAM!
Tuesday, October 5, 1999
Fans take $27M shot at Yashin
Lawsuit seeks damages from player, agent
"He's turning around and telling kids that if you're a star you can do whatever you want, that you don't have to honour your contract and that your word is worth nothing. I can't buy that," said retired businessman and season ticket holder Leonard Potechin, who's leading the legal action.
The timing of the lawsuit follows on the heels of the Senators' first game played Saturday without Yashin. He left last month following a controversial contract dispute.
The statement of claim alleges the former Senators star and his agent, Mark Gandler, acted "deliberately and maliciously" and created a situation of "dissatisfaction, anger and disillusionment" among season ticket holders.
It also alleges the pair concocted a plan "to poison the relations between the Russian-born Yashin, fellow players, and the fans" by asserting the fans and club were bigots and anti-Russian.
The lawsuit against Yashin and Gandler has the support of 200 ticket holders and efforts will be made to include all 11,000, Potechin said, adding that court costs will be divided among fans.
Legal documents must still be served by bailiffs to Yashin in Switzerland and Gandler in New Jersey, said lawyer Arthur Cogan.
Gandler and Yashin have 40 and 60 days, respectively, to file a statement of defence.
"I feel that we have a very good case," said Cogan, who claims the men broke the law by interfering with the "contractual relationship.
"In this case, the contractual relationship is between the fans and the (hockey) club. He interfered with that contract by refusing to play, and he devalued the worth of a season ticket."
The lawsuit claims fans paid an average of $4,000 per season ticket for the 1999-2000 season with the expectation Yashin would be playing.
The Ottawa Senators Hockey Club isn't commenting and Gandler isn't saying much, either.
"What do you do in a situation like this? You retain a lawyer, have him handle it for you, forget about it," Gandler said from New Jersey.
The lawsuit is seeking $13 million in damages from Yashin and $14.5 million in damages from Gandler and International Sports Advisors Co.
Any money awarded from the lawsuit will be given to charity, said Potechin.
-with files from Bruce Garrioch
 Bert's back on blades Blue Jays boot game Bombers drop Peterson Felicien rebuilds race | Visit our Polls Archive |