Former NFL athlete Rob Gronkowski, NBA star Victor Oladipo, and NASCAR driver Landon Cassill have collectively agreed to pay $2.4 million in connection with a lawsuit involving the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange, Voyager Digital. Their settlements mean that the Dallas Mavericks and minority owner Mark Cuban remain the sole defendants in the case. In contrast to the three athletes, Cuban appears less inclined to settle his portion of the lawsuit.
### Mark Cuban’s Legal Stance
While Cuban has refrained from making any public comments, his attorney, Stephen Best from Brown Rudnick LLP, indicated that they are awaiting the court’s decisions on various motions that could potentially dismiss, transfer, or reduce the claimed damages. Best stated in an email to The Dallas Morning News, “We are expecting significant rulings from the Court,” and confirmed that they are submitting a position statement indicating that the settlements with the other defendants should not impact the Dallas Mavericks or Mark Cuban.
### Settlement Details and Background
As reported by Law360, Gronkowski will contribute $1.9 million, while Oladipo will pay $500,000 following his retirement from the NBA last year. Cassill’s settlement amounts to $25,000. In 2021, Cuban and the Mavericks entered into a five-year agreement with Voyager, which offered fans a $100 reward for depositing $100 and executing a minimum trade of $10 by the end of the month. The promotion generated such significant interest that Voyager had to implement a waitlist for new investors.
However, the partnership quickly deteriorated. Just weeks after its launch, the cryptocurrency market experienced a significant downturn, plummeting from a peak market cap of $2.9 trillion to $1.2 trillion. Subsequently, Voyager filed for bankruptcy in July 2022. In September of the same year, a class-action lawsuit was initiated against Cuban and the Mavericks on behalf of Voyager’s investors. The lawsuit accused Cuban of using his reputation to mislead investors and make “false and misleading promises.” Although Cuban has denied these claims, the original complaint from 2022 asserted that Voyager’s failure resulted in losses exceeding $3 million for investors. The lawsuit also targeted athletes like Gronkowski, Oladipo, and Cassill, who had promoted the platform to their followers.
### Legal Representation and Defense
The Moskowitz Law Firm, which is representing the investors in the lawsuit, did not respond to requests for comment. Best, who has a history of representing high-profile clients, including Elon Musk in a fraud case, has expressed his readiness to defend Cuban regardless of the court’s forthcoming decisions. He noted, “Given Voyager’s bankruptcy, the plaintiffs are eager to find any financially viable party to hold accountable, irrespective of the actual circumstances.” Best highlighted that numerous celebrities and institutions had promoted Voyager, yet the plaintiffs seem singularly focused on Mark Cuban. He remains confident that the outcome will ultimately favor his client.
### Mavericks’ Management Amid Controversy
In light of ongoing criticism, Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison has stated he has “no regrets” regarding the Luka Doncic trade, reiterating his belief that “defense wins championships.” Meanwhile, there is a growing consensus that the Mavericks’ management needs to acknowledge the enduring backlash stemming from the Doncic trade, as evidenced by the mixed responses during recent press interactions. Rick Welts has emerged as a stabilizing figure amid Harrison’s tumultuous period, effectively communicating the organization’s position in a recent roundtable discussion.
