Nightclub Wants LeBron, not a Refund

ATLANTA (CN) - An Atlanta nightclub claims LeBron James accepted $15,500 to make an appearance there, then bailed out and said he was going to make the scene at a competing nightclub instead. The Opera Nightclub wants James ordered not to show up at its competitor until he appears at the Opera.

The Opera Nightclub sued James and his agent, Awesomlife Ent. LLC, in Fulton County Superior Court. "Defendant Awesomlife is defendant James' agent, and frequently schedules appearances for defendant James," according to the complaint.

The Opera claims that Awesomlife Ent. agreed in January that James would show up at the club on March 17.

The Opera says it paid a $12,500 deposit, but in February, Awesomlife demanded another $6,000. The Opera says it forked over $3,000.

The Opera claims that "defendant Awesomlife also told plaintiff that he needed extra funds to ensure defendant James would not make an appearance at Gold Room, and also informed plaintiff that Gold Room, by and through its agents, was attempting to induce defendant James to renege his obligations with plaintiff."

That's why the Opera forked over the extra $3,000, it says.

The Opera claims that both its agreements included an exclusivity provision, preventing James from making any other appearances at other clubs in Atlanta until he shows up at the Opera.

But on March 4, Awesomlife told the Opera that James was not going to show, but was going to the Gold Room, according to the complaint.

The Opera says the defendants offered it a refund, but it refused, and filed this complaint.

The Opera says it "has suffered substantial damages including, inter alia, present and future injury to the plaintiff's reputation and public standing, marketing costs, and potential loss of business profits."

The Opera seeks a temporary restraining order and a hearing on an injunction to bar James from making an appearance at the Gold Room until he shows up at the Opera.

Also named as defendants are F&C Buckhead Investments and F&S Investments.

The Opera is represented by Yasha Heidari of Atlanta.

Coincidentally, on the same day the Opera sued James, an unhappy customer sued the Opera, claiming he was assaulted, choked, thrown to the ground and handcuffed after objecting to an error in his bar bill.

Daniel Solomon claims he noticed an error on his tab and asked the bartender if he could speak to a manager.

While he was waiting, Solomon says, a man who did not identify himself, but who was later identified as defendant Charlie Maynard, "placed plaintiff in a headlock, choking plaintiff, slammed plaintiff violently to the ground, and put plaintiff in handcuffs. At this time, defendant Maynard threatened that if plaintiff did not immediately pay his bar tab, that plaintiff would be arrested."

Solomon says he paid his tab, and Maynard led him out of the club.

Solomon claims the incident happened at around 2 a.m. on March 15, 2009.

He seeks damages for assault and battery, false imprisonment and emotional distress.

He is represented by Andrew M. Beal with Beal & Blitch.

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