By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Shelly Finkel and the members of his management team which includes lawyers Nick Kahn and Keith Davidson have kept their word and dropped the lawsuits filed against Filipino ring idol and national treasure Manny Pacquiao, his lawyer Franklin "Jing" Gacal and close friend and confidant Rex "Wakee" Salud.
In fact, in an apparent display of harmony within Team Pacquiao, Finkel and Kahn will arrive with Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from the US on Tuesday morning.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Kahn said "its completely resolved," referring to the lawsuits, stating that a "withdrawal with prejudice has been filed" with the Los Angeles Superior Court. This means that the case could not be re-filed.
Gacal had expressed concern over the initial withdrawal filed by Finkel’s lawyers "without prejudice" which meant they had the option to re-file the case at any time and requested that the withdrawal motion be changed. Kahn indicated they complied with the request and that they will "receive a conformed copy from the Court which is just an acknowledgement that the case is dismissed with prejudice". Kahn said it "typically takes 24 hours" for the notice of dismissal to be received.
Kahn made it clear that the management team was "not looking for an extension or anything like that. It was more of proper conduct of affairs." The original lawsuit alleged that Pacquiao, without the written permission of the management team as required under his contract with Finkel, had signed an agreement with ABS-CBN. It also claimed that Pacquiao expressly warranted and represented that he had "the full power and authority to enter and perform this Agreement" when he did not.
The suit also claimed that Pacquiao had "granted ABS-CBN a sixty day right of first negotiation for future fights" which the plaintiffs alleged "significantly harms" their rights to negotiate for the highest fees for Pacquiao’s future fights.
Finkel and Kahn are expected to meet with top officials of ABS-CBN to hopefully resolve the issue which does not cover the third fight with Erik "El Terrible" Morales this November since the third encounter was part of an earlier contract entered into with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
ABS-CBN vice president for sports Peter Musngi said "Manny has to talk to us since he is the signatory" although he indicated relations with Finkel and Kahn were "okay." However, Musngi stressed " I hope they are not thinking that ABS-CBN will just fold up and die."
