Jurors in the case regarding the development of
Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex were told yesterday
that Disney CEO Michael Eisner "didn't tell the truth about
who dreamed up" the complex, according to Richard Verrier of
the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Willie Gary, who is representing All
Pro Sports Camps, which claims Disney stole its idea for the
facility, "questioned the accuracy of statements that Eisner
made in a deposition two weeks ago as part of a high-profile
lawsuit that went to trial Wednesday." In the opening
arguments, Gary said, "Mr. Eisner said he'd never heard of
All Pro Sports Camps until preparing for the deposition. He
didn't tell the truth." Gary cited sworn testimony from two
other Disney employees who said that Eisner and other senior
Disney execs "received letters a decade ago describing All
Pro Sports Camps' proposal for a sport complex." But Disney
attorney David Evans said Eisner "receives thousands of
letters and can't remember them all." Verrier calls the
trial "one of the most high-profile cases that Walt Disney
World has faced," not only because the suit seeks $1B in
damages, but also because attorney Johnnie Cochran is All
Pro Sports' co-counsel on the case (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/13).
