By Michael Marley
“There has been no ruling on the appeal, and we will pursue all remedies against Mr. Mayweather, including a default.” - Email response which I received from Manny Pacquiao's attorney Daniel Petrocelli on Friday night.
That’s the latest word out of the Los Angeles office of O’Melveny & Myers, the huge law firm which represents Pinoy Idol Pacquiao in his federal defamation lawsuit in Nevada against a couple of guys named Floyd Mayweather (Junior and Senior).
Petrocelli is, of course, the hard as nails barrister who “beat” - now imprisoned in Lovelock - football great OJ Simpson on the civil side on behalf of the family of Simpson’s murdered ex-wife. (As you recall, Simpson “walked” in the homicide trial.)
I don’t know any fight fans, except for those who are civil procedure mavens, who will find this Mayweather refusal to sit for a court ordered deposition exciting.
It’s possible, I think, that the judge might hit “Money” in his most vulnerable spot, the pocket, for this refusal to follow the court’s direction.
I’m not sure what Mayweather’s lawyers cited as grounds for their appeal of the court order but it is kind of amusing that the garrulous fighter suddenly doesn’t want to flap his gums, at least under the penalty of perjury.
While a fine might be forthcoming, it’s also likely that the deposition of Mayweather for his drug use allegations against Pacman will be rescheduled.
While Petrocelli will ask for a default, judges tend to let cases run until they are decided on the facts and the law.
As far as this keeping a possible Mayweather-Pacquiao super fight from happening, the parties could not be anymore estranged than they were before this refusal so that’s nothing to worry about.
This is just another blip on the radar, really.
But who knows? Maybe Mayweather and Pacquiao will square off in a courtroom instead of a ring.
