Submitted By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
It only took half an hour for an Oregon court to dismiss a $100,000,000.00 lawsuit filed against Nike by a convicted pimp who sued the company for allegedly not warning consumers its product could be used as a deadly weapon.
The lawsuit was originally filed in January by Sirgiorgio Clardy, who is serving a one hundred year sentence for an assault stemming from the use of his shoes.
According to the Oregonian, Clardy was found guilty of Second Degree Assault, Compelling Prostitution and First Degree Robbery the previous year for using his Nike Jordan shoes to stomp a man who did not pay one of his prostitutes for services rendered. The victim suffered injuries requiring stitches and reconstructive surgery. Under Oregon law, Clardy was declared a Dangerous Offender and sentenced to a century in prison with parole eligibility after thirty six.
In his handwritten three page complaint, Clardy named Nike, Nike Executive Phil Knight and others claiming the lack of product labeling stating the shoes could be used as a deadly weapon caused him damages. His complaint included the following:
“Do to the fact that these defendants named in this Tort claim failed to warn of risk or to provide an adequate warning or instruction it has caused personal injury in the likes of mental suffering.”
He also claimed he attempted suicide through starvation and other means multiple times.
In a hearing before the Multnomah County Circuit Court, Clardy told Judge Robert Durham that Nike was at least partially responsible for his lengthy prison term because the company failed to warn that his Nike Air Jordans could be used as deadly weapons. He spoke for twenty three minutes to the court through video uplink from prison.
Lawyers representing Nike spoke for less than ninety seconds and stated the shoes were safe “when used normally.”
Judge Durham admonished Clardy for wasting his time and dismissed the lawsuit.
By Darren Smith
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Serg, Serg the stomping man, stomps a head as fast as he can. He stomps with Nike, Rebook and Zoot too. Ascis and Addidas just for you. New Balance, Mizuno, Saucony you’ll rue. Mocassins, slippers and cowboy boots too. To make a case ski boots to sue.