Shelby County School Court has ordered the Memphis Restaurant to pay Memphis Grizzlies star guard JA Morant more than $300,000 in damages for the Yeli Masters, after the 26-year-old sued them for breach of contract.
Wing Master stops paying zero
Morant agreed to a contract to promote the business a few years ago on Fox 13 Memphis, but he later filed a lawsuit after he continued to use his name, image and similarity (NIL) to promote their wings while the restaurant stopped paying him.
According to documents from Morant’s attorney, the restaurant retained NBA Star payments four months after signing the contract between him and Wing Guru in January 2022.
Per per lucas finton Memphis Business AppealMorant’s lawyer wrote to Wing Guru in November 2022, asking the “company to achieve” to over $43,000 attributed to Morant.
However, the restaurant did not respond.
Arrears climb to $75,000
Morant’s lawyers said that a few months later, Wing Guru responded to their Instagram complaint, claiming they would receive $75,000 owed all $75,000, but Morant claimed he never received the money.
“Mr. Morant followed up by email, and Wyguru replied, ‘You will get all $75K for $75K by January 1. Relax. Thank you for your understanding,” the petition read. “However, on January 1, 2023 or at any other time, Wing Guru has not paid.”
The case was handed over to an arbitrator who supported Morant, ordering the restaurant to stop using his similarities and paying $300,000 in damages and damages plus interest, as well as an additional $65,000 in interest and legal fees.
The restaurant must not try to dismiss the case or pay until late November 2024, but Morant’s lawyers said none of this happened.
Morant’s legal team, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Tennessee Secretary of State’s office have all tried to serve businesses without success in a few months, according to court documents.
The owner of the Wing Master is charged with tax fraud, theft
According to Fenton, in late March, Billy Richmond, the owner of the Wing Master, was indicted for tax fraud and theft.
Theft indictment in Richmond was allegedly committed between January 1, 2018 and January 1, 2022. Richmond opened Wingguru in 2016.
Per Finton, Richmond was charged with one count of burglary of more than $250,000 in property and two counts of forgery of income/tax. He issued a bail of $50,000.
Richmond will next hold a report date in court on September 15 before Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Mitchell.
