TYR Sport Sues Speedo Parent Company Over LZR Racer suit
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TYR Sport Files Suit Against
Speedo Over LZR Racer Swimsuits |
TYR Sport Monday filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in California against Speedo's parent company Warnaco Swimwear Inc. over Speedo's LZR Racer swimsuit, according to Lisa Dillman of the L.A. TIMES. The suit alleges Speedo, USA Swimming and team head coach Mark Schubert "combined to engage in a campaign of falsely disparaging the products of Speedo's competitors, including TYR, for the purpose of inducing competitive swimmers to refrain from doing business with Speedo's competitors." The suit claims that it was done in an "especially insidious and deceptive manner." U.S. swimmer Erik Vendt, a former TYR spokesperson, also was named in the suit. TYR in the suit cites published reports in which Schubert "recommends Speedo, including one interview in which he said he 'will tell his team to wear Speedo at the U.S. trials.'" Dillman notes Speedo "has long been linked to USA Swimming, in a commercial sense," and TYR in the court papers said Schubert "is a paid spokesman for Speedo." Speedo officials could not be reached for comment, and a USA Swimming spokesperson said that the company was aware of the suit but had not seen the filing (L.A. TIMES, 5/15).
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