Car shop sues Deion Sanders
He's accused of not paying bill; he won separate suit in July
07:01 AM CDT on Friday, October 17, 2003
All Pro Collision of Dallas wants money from another All-Pro – former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders.
The body shop, in a claim filed in a Dallas County Justice of the Peace court, alleges that Mr. Sanders never paid for $4,420 in paint and upholstery work completed three years ago on a 1985 Mercedes Benz convertible.
Mr. Sanders and his attorney did not return phone calls Thursday seeking comment.
The lawsuit against Mr. Sanders is the second filed against the CBS NFL Today studio analyst. In July, he prevailed in Dallas County civil court when a judge ruled that he did not have to pay more than $1,500 in a lawsuit over a 2001 car repair bill.
In that case, a vintage-car restoration company alleged that Mr. Sanders refused to pay a $4,265 for repairs to his 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible. Magrathea Inc. alleged that Mr. Sanders had refused to pay the bill because Jesus had informed him that $1,500 was all he had to pay.
Mr. Sanders testified that he only told company owner Phil Compton, "God bless you," when the car was delivered to Mr. Sanders' home.
In the latest lawsuit, All Pro Collision owner Ralph Castro said an associate of Mr. Sanders brought two cars to him – the Mercedes and a 1960s-era Ford Thunderbird – to update and paint.
The associate, Anthony Montoya, told the body shop that the cars had been given to Mr. Sanders by rap star MC Hammer as repayment of money owed to Mr. Sanders, the lawsuit said.
Mr. Castro said that his shop performed the work and that Mr. Montoya picked up the cars. Mr. Sanders paid All Pro for the work on the Thunderbird but not for work on the Mercedes, said Willie Cantu, attorney for the body shop.
All Pro filed suit against Mr. Sanders on Sept. 26, and he was served with notice of the claim Wednesday, court officials said.
Mr. Castro said he didn't file suit when the dispute over the bill occurred in 2000 because he thought no one would take his case. He said he finally found an attorney who would represent him for a reasonable price.
"I thought, 'I won't win,' even though it's not fair," Mr. Castro said.
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