SAN DIEGO — Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. filed a lawsuit Monday towards Huge League Advance in an try and void the long run earnings contract he signed as a 17-year-old minor leaguer that might value him $34 million.
The lawsuit, filed in San Diego County Superior Court docket, accuses BLA of utilizing predatory techniques to lure him into an “funding deal” that was truly an unlawful mortgage. BLA misrepresented itself to Tatis, hiding its unlicensed standing and pushing him into mortgage phrases banned by California’s client safety legal guidelines, the swimsuit alleges.
Legal professional Robert Hertzberg mentioned the swimsuit additionally seeks public injunctive aid to guard younger athletes from being lured into such offers.
Hertzberg mentioned Tatis obtained $2 million up entrance in change for 10% of future earnings. Tatis signed a $340 million, 14-year contract in February 2021. Hertzberg mentioned Tatis additionally can be on the hook for future earnings from any subsequent contract he may signal, except the deal is voided.
“I am preventing this battle not only for myself however for everybody nonetheless chasing their dream and hoping to supply a greater life for his or her household,” Tatis mentioned in an announcement supplied by a publicist. “I need to assist defend these younger gamers who do not but know find out how to defend themselves from these predatory lenders and unlawful monetary schemes — youngsters’ focus ought to be on their ardour for baseball, not dodging shady enterprise offers.”
Tatis, a son of the previous large league infielder, declined additional remark earlier than Monday night time’s recreation towards the Washington Nationals.
Hertzberg mentioned that regardless that Tatis signed the deal in his native Dominican Republic, he’s lined by California client safety legal guidelines.
BLA declined remark.
“California lawmakers have put in place severe, easy protections towards predatory monetary exercise, however BLA has nonetheless disregarded our legal guidelines to pursue a enterprise mannequin constructed on prohibited, misleading and abusive practices,” mentioned Hertzberg, a former speaker of the California State Meeting and majority chief of the California Senate.
Tatis has blossomed into one of many recreation’s greatest stars, though he has been dogged by accidents and an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing medication handed down by MLB in 2022. He debuted in 2019 and was an All-Star at shortstop in 2021 earlier than being moved to proper discipline, the place he was an All-Star final 12 months.
BLA sued onetime Padres outfielder Franmil Reyes on June 16 in Delaware Superior Court docket, claiming breach of contract. BLA says Reyes owes $404,908.87 in past-due funds plus $298,749.13 in curiosity, in addition to a yet-to-be-determined quantity from when he performed in Japan.