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
Looks more like Lou Gossett.
No Sting.
If my belly gets any bigger I am gonna sue Buddha.
If he is successful, a farm animal should sue him for acting like a horse's ass.BWAHAHA!
That means you're 'disadvantaged.' We'll have to set up a government program to compensate those of you who can't jump on the doppelganger-lawsuit bandwagon...
Bingo! They maybe some of this idiots would knock it off.
It still isn't a FEMA card, but hey, we victims can't be choosers.
If Jordan didn't mind spending a bit of money on a detective, it would be very interesting to know if this jackass has ever attempted to capitalize on the resemblance (prior to the suit, I mean)...
I was told that I look Italian.
Can I sue Italy?
There is a lot more to this story but I don't want to turn this into a vanity post
Dang, that's me, except I haven't had a watchband that wide since I was in college.
"I hope no one out there looks like Helen Thomas. Now that person would really have my sympathy."
"LOL...They would also have a really good court case."
Damn straight. They could sue God.
In the last couple years, I've been told many times (painfully) that I look just like Michael Stipe.
No, that would make it even cooler.
I've met you and I'd say you look more like Clinger on Mash.
Sorrry.... Couldn't resist. ;-)
My dog does. No wonder he can't get a date! But after I sue Helen, ching ching ching! 
Absolutely...heheheh...
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