WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade wants a judge to dismiss a multimillion-dollar lawsuit filed by his former partners in a failed restaurant and sports memorabilia chain.
A federal judge in Florida was scheduled to hear arguments Thursday from attorneys for Wade and his former partners in the D. Wade’s Place venture. Attempts to settle the $90 million case hit an impasse last year.
The investors claim Wade violated federal antitrust laws by failing to honor their contract. The restaurants were supposed to market valuable Wade memorabilia that the investors say the NBA star wrongly monopolizes now.
However, Wade’s lawyers say antitrust laws don’t apply to the case. They say Wade has absolute control over licensing of his name and image.