Over the weekend, Marvin Harrison Jr. made headlines for not attending the NFLPA Rookie Premiere and being sued by Fanatics. Despite redactions in the complaint, we analyzed the situation and found that it was a bold and risky move by Fanatics.
The fact that the lawsuit was filed indicates Fanatics’ strong belief that they are correct and Marvin Harrison Jr. is in the wrong. However, there is no evidence to suggest that there was any wrongdoing on Marvin Harrison Jr.’s part. Many contracts begin with a term sheet and then progress to a detailed written agreement. It is possible for there to be a contract in place even before the final long-form contract is completed, as long as the term sheet covers all crucial details. In this case, it seems like there was no term sheet or written agreement between Marvin Harrison Jr. and Fanatics before the lawsuit was filed. This makes it difficult to determine if all essential terms were agreed upon and signed before the lawsuit was initiated.
If Fanatics loses this lawsuit, their relationships with other players could be impacted negatively. Even if they win, their competitors may use this as a warning to players considering doing business with them. As such, it is crucial for Fanatics to be completely certain that they are in the right before taking legal action against any player or team.
