Lawyer fires back at Michael Irvin

Mark Taylor, the Dallas attorney who is representing three plaintiffs who filed suit against Michael Irvin claiming Irvin stole their idea for a reality show, has shot down claims made by Irvin in a countersuit by saying Irvin’s allegations are “nothing but unsubstantiated, generalized claims.”

Irvin in a response filed late last week denied that any contract existed between him and the plaintiffs in relation to the reality show and also filed a counterclaim in the case.

About a month ago, the original plaintiffs, Jordan Bealmear of Thermal, Calif., and Shannon Clark and Christopher Harding, both of Louisville, Ky., alleged Irvin’s reality show “Fourth and Long” was their idea, but one that had been intercepted by Irvin during negotiations to work together on the program.

Irvin’s court filing accused the plaintiffs of fraudulently representing themselves as producers who had the appropriate connections and know-how to put such a show together. Irvin also accused the group of defaming him when he decided not to pursue further communications with them.

The plaintiffs' attorney Taylor added late Monday: “In his counterclaims, Mr. Irvin claims to have been defamed, but he doesn’t describe the actual defamatory statement my clients are alleged to have made. Mr. Irvin claims that my clients tortiously interfered with his business relationships, but he doesn’t identify the relationship that was damaged or how my clients damaged it. Mr. Irvin claims my clients have committed an act of civil extortion, but he doesn’t specify what that act was.”



(bizjournals.com)