Posted on 07/08/2006 11:57:30 AM PDT by Andy from Beaverton
HILLSBORO -- Michael Jordan made a bushel of money shooting baskets and pitching Nike products.
Allen Ray Heckard, a 51-year-old Northeast Portland man, says he has been told he looks like Jordan. Now he wants some of that fortune for the pain and suffering of having a famous face.
Heckard, an airport shuttle driver and auto detailer with a prison record for drug possession, filed a lawsuit in Washington County Circuit Court last week asking for $416 million from the former basketball star and another $416 million from Nike founder Phil Knight.
Although 3 inches shorter, about 25 pounds lighter and 8 years older than Jordan, Heckard says he is constantly mistaken for His Airness. Like Jordan, he is African American, has a shaved head and wears a pierced earring in his left ear.
In the suit, Heckard says he is denied "the right to live a normal life" because he cannot attend a religious service or public functions, go to movies, ride public transportation, go shopping or play sports in public parks "without continually being harassed by the public of looking like michael jordan (sic)."
Acting as his own attorney, Heckard plunked down the $206 fee on June 29 to file the lawsuit. He is demanding $52 million from each defendant for "defamation and permanent injury" and $364 million from each in punitive damages for "emotional pain and suffering."
Heckard refused an interview with The Oregonian, saying he was on a local television newscast and that was going to be it for public comment.
Wearing Nike Air Jordan shoes, Heckard told KGW(8), "Don't get me wrong, it's definitely a positive thing, because Michael, like I say, is one of the best ballplayers that I've known to play the game. But then again, that's Michael and I'm me."
If Nike officials are laughing, it's in private.
"We don't believe the suit to have merit and will move to dismiss it," said Theresa Tran, director of communications for the Jordan brand at Nike.
"Basically, everybody has a right to have their day in court," said Stephen V. Piucci, past president of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and a specialist in personal injury litigation for a Portland law firm.
And Heckard's day, he said, "is going to be short."
Holly Danks: 503-221-4377; hollydanks@news.oregonian.com
Okie dokie.
I hope this suit is successful, because people tell me I look like Eric Clapton, and I think he has money.
seems an entirely reasonable case and I hope he gets all 832 million dollars that he deserves.
/sarc
Can we just shoot this guys lawyer instead?
..and shake down artist
Doogle
I'm gonna sue Ashton Kutcher... /sarc
I wish the judge would fine him for tying up the docket with a frivolous law suit.
He's his own lawyer.
If all black men look alike, then all black men look like Michael Jordan... /fallacy
Really, this guy doesn't look a bit like Michael Jordan and if he feels harassed, all he needs to do is grow his hair.
Do you really look like Clapton? I'd love to see a picture and judge for myself! :)
One way to stop crap litigation like this: Loser pays.
Dear Allen,
You don't look like Mike.
I like Mike ping.
It used to be that you only found Looney Tunes at the Disney studios but now they're everywhere in our country.
Actually, I do, although I'm getting more grey hair than he currently has.
He sings better, too.
But I've only been told of the resemblance maybe 50 million times by complete strangers over the past 15 years.
It never occurred to me to sue him.
I'm gonna have to sue Abe Vigoda.
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