Vince McMahon has been named in yet another lawsuit over XFL.
Per PWInsider, a man named David Adrian Smith filed a lawsuit before the District Court for the Northern District of Texas on July 20. People such as Vince McMahon, Dani Garcia, The Rock, current WWE CFO Frank Riddick, Riddick\’s wife Carol and others has been named in the lawsuit. Both WWE and ESPN have also been mentioned.
Smith has claimed that he had an email exchange with Carol Riddick in May 2016 in which he \”disclosed confidential trade secret information,\” including market and opportunity analysis regarding the concept of a minor league or developmental football league. He is alleging that the Riddicks disclosed this information, and it was brought to Vince McMahon. McMahon further shared it with former NBC executive Dick Ebersol as well as ESPN.
Per the claims made in the lawsuit, the \”trade secret information\” were used in production of the ESPN 30 For 30 documentary This Was The XFL. Smith is alleging that WWE sold the rights to XFL over to McMahon\’s Alpha entertainment because they knew the \’trade secrets.\’ Ebersol also launched the AAF league in part because of his knowledge of the said secrets.
When The Rock, Dani Garcia and others purchased XFL, the trade secrets were \”disclosed / conveyed to and acquired / received\” to the new ownership without the authorization of smith. David Smith is requesting damages for the misappropriation of his trade secrets with an estimated figure greater than $15 million as well as a declaration that defendants\’ actions were unlawful, among other things.
Neither Vince McMahon, nor any other involving parties have responded to these claims publicly. We\’ll keep you posted on any development in the story.
