A hit with fans through three weeks of play on the football field, the Alliance of American Football is taking a big one off of it in the courtroom.
The AAF and its co-founder, Charlie Ebersol, are being sued in Los Angeles Superior Court by a man who claims the startup football league was his idea.
Robert Vanech, the co-founder and current CFO of Trebel Music, said he had a “handshake agreement” with Ebersol that was violated and claims he deserves 50 percent ownership of the AAF. In addition to equity in the league, Vanech is seeking financial damages and “public acknowledgment of his co-founding role.”
In the suit, Vanech claims he was the first one to approach Ebersol about the idea of starting the AAF and proposed the league, a mobile app, gaming, and using real-time biometric data.
Some of those ideas have largely been credited to acknowledged AAF co-founder Bill Polian.
JUST IN: Charlie Ebersol and the new football league, the AAF, have been sued by Robert Vanech, who said it was his idea to come up with league and was entitled to 50% ownership.
Vanech says agreement with Ebersol was ignored, seeks $$ and wants his name part of its history.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 25, 2019
In lawsuit against AAF and Charlie Ebersol, Robert Vanech — who believed he had a "handshake agreement with Ebersol" said much of what he founded about the league was later credited to partner Bill Polian.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 25, 2019
On Monday, the AAF issued a statement. “Mr. Vanech’s claim is without merit,” the league said. “There was never any agreement, oral or written, between Mr. Vanech and Mr. Ebersol relating to The Alliance. We remain focused solely on our historic, inaugural season when each weekend over 400 players get an opportunity to showcase their talents and fulfill their dreams of playing professional football.”
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