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Bush reportedly vows to ‘vigorously’ fight suit

Sports marketer suing star, family for gifts allegedly accepted while at USC

Image: BushGetty Images
Saints running back Reggie Bush, who played at USC in college, plans to fight a lawsuit against him.

SAN DIEGO - Reggie Bush's lawyer said Wednesday the former USC running back would "vigorously" fight a lawsuit filed by a sports marketer, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday against Bush and his parents, seeks to recoup nearly $300,000 in cash and gifts they allegedly accepted during Bush’s sophomore and junior seasons. It claims Bush and his family received $291,600 in cash, living arrangements and other benefits from Lloyd Lake between November 2004 and January 2006.

“We tried for over a year to resolve this amicably and Bush and his attorney didn’t want to reach any resolution,” said Lake’s attorney, Brian E. Watkins. “They wanted the truth to come out. Now it’s out.”

Bush’s attorney, David Cornwell, said in a written statement that Lake is trying to extort money from Bush.

"The ex-con plaintiff has been in and out of prison over the past few years and probably has not earned $291,600 in his life time," Cornwell said, the Times reported.

Watkins said NCAA investigators are scheduled to meet with Lake on Friday in San Diego.

“We will answer their questions and provide them with documents and other evidence,” Watkins said. “The lawsuit’s out there. It spells it out. We’ve been putting the NCAA off for quite a while. We’re going to agree to cooperate.”

The suit comes nearly two years after allegations first surfaced and has prompted the NCAA and Pac-10 to launch their own investigation.

“At one time we asked for out-of-pocket costs,” Watkins said. “They wouldn’t even work with us at all.”

Lake’s lawsuit said Bush’s family “had fallen on hard times financially and required immediate and significant financial assistance to support their respective lifestyles.”

Lake and partner Michael Michaels have said they provided money to Bush’s family as well as a home for which his family had failed to pay more than $50,000 in rent. The conflict was made public after Bush, now a New Orleans Saints running back, signed with another sports agent.

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Bush, the Heisman Trophy winner as a junior in 2005, is in his second season with the Saints. He has said repeatedly that neither he nor his family did anything wrong in dealings with Michaels and Lake.

Michaels reached a settlement with Bush and his family last April.

Earlier this month, Yahoo! Sports reported that Lake planned to meet with NCAA investigators and turn over financial records and other evidence linking Bush and his family to the benefits. The Web site also reported it had acquired confidential e-mails from officers of New Era Sports & Entertainment, a marketing agency founded by Lake and Michaels, that shows the agency soliciting marketing and memorabilia deals on the running back’s behalf.

If Bush is found to have received improper benefits, USC could be forced to forfeit games. The school could face other sanctions if it’s proven that coaches knew or should have known about the alleged benefits.

Also, if Bush is found to have broken NCAA rules during his Heisman-winning season, the award could be revoked.

© 2012 msnbc.com

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