EIGHT-DIVISION world champion Manny Pacquiao’s three-year legal battle against Paradigm Sports Management (PSM), headed by its CEO Audie Attar, has concluded in favor of the Filipino ring icon.
Superior Court of the State of California County of Orange Central Justice Center Judge Walter Schwarm issued his final statement of the decision last August 12, 2024, declaring the contract void because Paradigm Sports was unlicensed.
According to the final statement signed by judge Schwarm, “The court finds for Mr. Pacquiao on the declaratory relief cause of action and declares the contract void due to illegality.”
Pacquiao’s US lawyer Atty. Jason Aniel said the former senator was glad to hear the court’s final decision and thanked everyone, who prayed for its resolution.
“We are pleased that the court made its final decision on the legal issues in Mr. Pacquiao’s favor,” Aniel said. “After hearing Paradigm Sports Management’s objections to the tentative decision, the court decided the contract that Paradigm sought to enforce Mr. Pacquiao was illegal as Paradigm was not properly licensed.”
Aniel added: “This decision negates the jury’s findings back in May of 2023. We thank the court’s time and effort in this matter. Mr. Pacquiao thanks his fans for their patience while the court fully resolved all the legal issues.”
Pacquiao’s MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons confirmed the latest documents from the Orange County, saying that the former senator did nothing wrong and the Paradigm Sports Management’s contract was illegal.
“Manny Pacquiao has finally been proven innocent. He did nothing wrong as the Superior Court of California has already announced its final statement declaring that the contract offered by Paradigm was void due to illegality,” Gibbons said, referring to the judge’s final decision.
“God bless Manny Pacquiao,” Gibbons added.
The Filipino boxing legend has been vindicated after winning the court’s final battle despite the US jury’s May 2023 first decision that ordered him to pay $5.1 million to Paradigm with $3.3 million for breach of contract and $1.8 million for breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
But Pacquiao’s legal camp waited for the whole legal process of trial since last year. The same judge found out that Paradigm was not licensed as a manager under the California law, thereby nullifying the jury’s early verdict.
