Sanders prevails in suitAthlete doesn't have to pay more for car repair; he denies Jesus remark
07/15/2003
Deion Sanders scored a touchdown in Dallas County civil court Monday when a judge ruled that he did not have to pay more than $1,500 in a lawsuit over a 2001 car repair bill.
"Thank God," Mr. Sanders said after hearing the verdict in the lawsuit brought against him over repairs made to his 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible. "I'm happy that justice was served and the truth really did come out."
The lawsuit, filed by Magrathea Inc., a vintage-car restoration business, said the former Dallas Cowboys cornerback refused to pay a $4,265.57 car repair bill because Jesus had informed him that $1,500 was all he had to pay.
Mr. Sanders, now an NFL studio analyst for CBS, denied that he ever said anything more than "God bless you" to Phil Compton, Magrathea's owner, when the car was delivered to his Plano home Nov. 5, 2001.
He said his refusal to pay the larger amount had nothing to do with his spiritual calling. Instead, he said, he felt he was being taken advantage of because he is a sports celebrity.
"That guy was trying to rip me off," Mr. Sanders said after the 2 ½-hour trial before state District Judge Joe Cox. "That's what it was."
During his testimony, Mr. Sanders took issue with Mr. Compton's attorney, Ed Edson, who said Mr. Sanders had asked for a "Jesus discount."
"I told you about making a mockery of God," Mr. Sanders said. "You can play with me, but don't play with God."
Mr. Sanders testified that he did tell Mr. Compton that he was giving him a check for $1,500 because that was all "in his heart" he knew he had to pay. He said he believed that Mr. Compton had been informed that no more than $1,500 in repairs be done.
Mr. Compton testified that a friend of Mr. Sanders, Anthony Montoya, had the car towed to Magrathea because it didn't run.
Mr. Montoya told Mr. Compton simply to "fix the car." He never said anything about a $1,500 repair limit, Mr. Compton said.
Magrathea replaced the car's battery, starter motor, radiator and thermostat. Mechanics flushed out the engine block, and repaired the electrical system and various gauges. Mechanics also removed contaminated fuel, rebuilt the carburetor and replaced gaskets and hoses.
After Mr. Compton delivered the car, Mr. Sanders complained that the bill was too high.
Mr. Compton said that he refused to back down on the bill and that Mr. Sanders launched into a religious sermon. He gave the car repair shop owner a check for $1,500 and then said he knew in his heart that was all he was required to pay.
Mr. Compton said that when he complained, Mr. Sanders told him to go ahead and sue him for the rest.
" 'I get sued every day,' " he recalled the former pro athlete saying.
Mr. Compton was unhappy with the verdict.
"I am totally the little guy, and the little guy has no standing in Dallas when it comes to mega-ego and mega-dollars," Mr. Compton said.
After the trial, Mr. Sanders confronted Mr. Compton outside the courtroom and asked him to admit that he was never preached to as he had testified. Mr. Compton would not recant.
"I never said no 'praise be to God,' " Mr. Sanders said.
"It was more like a small sermon, and you're known for doing it," Mr. Compton replied.
Then Mr. Sanders zeroed in on the "Jesus discount" phrase used by Mr. Compton's attorney to describe Mr. Sanders' decision to pay the $1,500.
"Did I ever say what you said I said? ... 'Jesus discount?' " Mr. Sanders said.
Mr. Compton didn't say anything.
"Thank you, it speaks volumes," Mr. Sanders said.
As he waited for an elevator, Mr. Sanders explained why he decided to fight the lawsuit.
"It's a principle thing," he said. "That's my main thing. Don't play with God."
E-mail tlangford@dallasnews.com
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