SANTA ANA, Calif. (CN) - Kobe Bryant countersued Goldin Auctions, which claims he's interfering with its sale of his memorabilia for which it paid his mother a $450,000 advance, in Superior Court.
Goldin sued the Laker star in Trenton, N.J. Federal Court last week, claiming his interference with its auction of 100 of his mementos in June jeopardized its auction of "in excess of 900 items worth approximately $1.5 million in other collectibles set for auction not consigned by Pamela Bryant that will be in jeopardy of not being sold."
Goldin claimed it paid Bryant's mother a $450,000 advance, which she spent on a house.
Kobe Bryant countersued Goldin on Monday, in Orange County Superior Court.
Pamela Goldin is not a party to either lawsuit.
"This case concerns the illegal efforts of Goldin, a New Jersey auction house, to sell invaluable sports memorabilia owned by Kobe Bryant, including irreplaceable items from his past such as his high school basketball jerseys and state championship rings," Kobe Bryant says in his complaint. "Mr. Bryant seeks to prevent the sale of his personal property by Goldin and to force the return of the personal property, which holds tremendous sentimental value to him.
"Upon information and belief, on December 27, 2012, Plaintiff's mother, Pamela Bryant, offered Goldin the opportunity to auction for sale numerous items of sports memorabilia from Plaintiff's basketball career. Upon information and belief, Pamela
Bryant falsely represented to Goldin that Plaintiff had gifted the memorabilia to her. Goldin agreed to offer the memorabilia for sale at auction.
"Upon information and belief, on or about January 2, 2013, Pamela Bryant signed a Consignment Agreement with Goldin by which she agreed to consign certain Kobe Bryant memorabilia to Goldin to be offered for public sale at auction. In addition,
Pamela Bryant signed letters of authenticity ostensibly certifying that she is Plaintiff's mother and that the to-be-auctioned memorabilia was free of any liens and encumbrances. The memorabilia was delivered to Goldin on January 3, 2013.
"Upon information and belief, pursuant to the Consignment Agreement, on January 3, 2013, Goldin wired $450,000 to a bank account controlled by Plaintiff's parents, Joseph and Pamela Bryant.
"Plaintiff was never provided notice of, or otherwise consulted regarding, the Consignment Agreement prior to its execution by Goldin and Pamela Bryant. Indeed,
Plaintiff did not learn of the purported consignment of his personal property until Goldin issued a press release several months later. ...
"The April 30 Press Release creates a false and misleading impression that Plaintiff was involved in the consignment of The Kobe Bryant Collection. In the April Press Release, Goldin claims that '[a]ll of the items have been consigned to auction by the Bryant family,' and further states that '[i]t is gratifying to once again work with the Bryant family. ...' The April 30 Press Release continues with a glamorized portrayal of Goldin's supposed prior work with Plaintiff. These statements falsely insinuate that Mr. Bryant himself consigned The Kobe Bryant Collection for auction. He did not. The April 30 Press Release, and all other advertisements, solicitations and promotions concerning The Kobe Bryant Collection, were and are wholly unauthorized by Plaintiff.