The Vikings yesterday retained N.Y.-based attorneys TED WELLS and ROBERTA KAPLAN, who have “expertise in jury trials and gay rights,” for defense in the case brought on by former NFLer CHRIS KLUWE. Earlier this year, Wells “provided the NFL with a report on an atmosphere of bullying” in the Dolphins locker room. Kaplan is “best known for her landmark casework” in U.S. Supreme Court opposing the Defense of Marriage Act (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/30). The Vikings have “great sensitivity” to the issues raised by Kluwe and his attorney CLAYTON HALUNEN. The team also retained Minneapolis-based attorney JOSEPH ANTHONY “to assist in the case” (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 7/30).
AGENTS OF CHANGE? Richmond-based agency Proformance is “offering major league players contract negotiation services at a flat percentage rate.” The agency will charge players 1.5% “for negotiating contract alone.” A client who “wants the full service will still be able to get it” at the 4% fee. Blue Jays RF JOSE BAUTISTA and Braves P ERVIN SANTANA “left Proformance earlier this year” (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 7/30).
NAMES: A lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Brooklyn alleges that a “partially blind cook who toiled in Barclays Center's luxurious Calvin Klein Courtside Club claims he was banished to the media section ‘out of sight’ of well-heeled customers because he is disabled.” The claim is contained in a $5M lawsuit filed by five food service employees at the arena alleging that they “were discriminated against based on race or disability” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/29)....Good Karma Brands CEO CRAIG KARMAZIN said his minority stake in the Bucks is "money that is material to me" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/25)....Basketball HOFer KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR said that his signed BRUCE LEE poster “is being auctioned off against his wishes -- and he’s fighting to get it back.” Abdul-Jabbar has filed a lawsuit against Julien’s Auction House to “retrieve 152 personal items,” including the signed poster for “GAME OF DEATH,” the ’73 film he made with Lee (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 7/29)....Cavaliers F LEBRON JAMES on Monday was in N.Y. “filming a scene” for JUDD APATOW and AMY SCHUMER’s upcoming movie, "TRAINWRECK" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 7/29)....Former MLBer CHRIS CARPENTER has listed his 3,335-square-foot home in the Ballenisles Country Club of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., for $625,000 (LATIMES.com, 7/29).
GET WELL SOON: Red Sox VP Emeritus & team historian DICK BRESCIANI is “recovering from an illness” (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/27).
