By Greg Hazley
Runyon, Saltzman & Einhorn sued client the United Football League for $264,000 in fees on Feb. 4, claiming the three-year-old league breached its contract with the Sacramento PR agency after 10 months of work. The league said it has begun making payments.
Attorneys for RS&E filed the four-count complaint in Superior Court against the league and 20 “John Does.”
“A significant payment on the outstanding amount owed was made [Feb. 4] and the United Football League has agreed to repay the remaining balance,” said a statement from the UFL forwarded by league VP of communications Michael Preston. He declined to comment on the suit.
Updated 3/25: RS&E’s attorney, Angela Schrimp de al Vergne of the Sacramento firm Knox, Lemmon, Anapolsky & Schrimp, said the matter has been resolved and the case dismissed.
The PR firm was hired by the five-team UFL in February 2010 for a 10-month, $10K/month contract to handle efforts like public and community relations, creative development and media planning as the independent league, which held its first season in 2009 as a competitor to the National Football League. The pact also gave RS&E a 7.5% commission on media buys.
RS&E, which is also seeking attorneys fees, argued that it had not been paid for its work, a bill totaling $264,892.35, plus late charges of 1.5% per month that added up to nearly $6,500 as of mid-January.
Florida’s First Coast News reported this week that the UFL is being sued by the Mayo Clinic for unpaid medical bills.
The league said it will start its third season in August. With an uncertain labor situation in the NFL, there is a chance that the UFL will be the only professional football being played in the U.S. next season.
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