TN-based Advantage Management (AMI), the former
management company of NASCAR driver Bill Elliott, is "suing"
IL-based McDonald's, Elliott's former sponsor, in U.S.
District Court in Nashville, according to Keith Russell of
the NASHVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL. AMI is "alleging breach of
contract regarding its administration of a joint licensing
agreement between" Elliott's racing team and McDonald's,
claiming that McDonald's "violated its agreement by
'abandoning'" AMI. AMI says that McDonald's "directed AMI
to confront" Elliott "about possible licensing problems,"
including "alleged misuse" of McDonald's trademarks and
"creation of a hostile, confrontational atmosphere with the
sponsor." AMI says that "its intervention on behalf" of
McDonald's "caused AMI to lose its business relationship"
with Elliott and "led to Elliott's filing of a lawsuit
against AMI in a related case." AMI and McDonald's both
asked on January 6 for a "120-day stay in the case" in order
to "allow the parties time to continue their ongoing
settlement negotiations" (NASHVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/17).
