Kobe scandal leaves Nike with real beef; Is Nike trying to make a fast break from Kobe Bryant

NY Daily ^ | 07-27-03

[cinFLA]

Prison for chatroom woman who lied about rape
By Richard Savill
(Filed: 01/19/2002)


A MOTHER who falsely accused a man of rape was jailed for six months yesterday.

Julie Renouf's claims led to the suspect, Andrew Williams, being questioned for 15 hours and wasted nearly 2,000 hours of police time.

Renouf, 34, a mother of two, said she was attacked by a stranger and detectives believed that a highly dangerous rapist was at large, Judge Graham Cottle said at Truro Crown Court.

She initially told police she was imprisoned in her car and raped by a motorist who stopped after she broke down in a lay-by. Police appealed for help from the media, describing her as traumatised and psychologically scarred.

Detectives later established that she consented to sex with Mr Williams, whom she met through an internet chatroom.

Renouf, of Redruth, Cornwall, admitted intending to pervert the course of justice.

Judge Cottle said that for Mr Williams it "must have been a living nightmare". He spent two months in peril of prosecution.

Tony Randall, prosecuting, said Renouf, a care assistant, encountered Mr Williams through a chatroom and arranged to meet him at a service station, near Saltash, Cornwall. She was a willing partner when they had intercourse.

When Renouf later arrived at her sister's house in Plymouth, she was very distressed and said she had been held against her will by a man in her car.

On Jan 5, Renouf made a new statement saying she was raped by a a man she met through a chatroom.

Police arrested Mr Williams at his home in Bristol and he said she agreed to have sex and had telephoned him several times over Christmas. Mr Williams was eventually released on bail.

Simon Laws, for Renouf, said she offered Mr Williams her apologies. Renouf had been treated for depression and sought comfort from Mr Williams. Her marriage was unhappy.

She made up the rape because she was upset at having been unfaithful for the first time. "It was a depressed, miserable and confused state of mind that produced one lie after another," he said.

Renouf had been ostracised by her family, her marriage was over and she had been spat at in the street.

Outside court, Mr Williams, 27, said: "I am glad she got what she got. For me it has been hell and I am glad it is all over."

[cinFLA]

"In practise, signs of violence must be very clear, especially if a man is to be convicted of contact- or acquintance-rape. In cases where the marks left on the woman are less pronounced, the case will often be dropped because of »the state of the evidence«."

[Hodar]

cinFLA;

Thanks for that post. Until now, I had never heard of a woman being penalized for a false charge of rape. This makes my list as the first.

And as a side note, if the man had been found guilty; he would have to register for the rest of his life as a sex offender, would have been marked for life as a felon, and would cetainly have served far more than 6 months in jail.

This case illustrates exactly why I feel that the accused should have the same level of confidentiality afforded the 'victim'.

[#3Fan]

Since his case hinges on the proof of force, I'd imagine they'd have to go with the class 3. If the jury wouldn't buy there was force, then they wouldn't buy it wasn't consensual. Unless they give in to the media pressure though to let him off with a lighter sentence.

[aristeides]

Jury verdicts are often, strictly speaking, illogical. But they generally reflect a sensible weighing of justice.

[truth_seeker]

"Unless Nike's lawyers have fallen down on the job, the contract that Bryant signed must have had a morals clause of some kind in it. If so, depending on what it said, Nike would be well within its rights if they decided to exercise it and dump Bryant. In which case Bryant has no-one but himself to blame."

Nike is paying Bryant for his image. Bryant has an affirmative responsibility, to continue to provide a good image, so that Nike gets its money's worth.

I am NOT a lawyer, but I do understand business and property law.

I will even speculate that if the deal is five years, that there are MANY reasons that Nike could avoid continued payments.

Let's say the player gains fifty pounds, misses practice, and plays very poorly. I expect Nike would try to avoid payment.

Regarding the morals: When players enter the league, they get instruction about RISKS JUST LIKE THIS ONE.

They are warned of groupies, extortion, blackmail, STDs, morals clauses, etc.

They have lawyers, agents and bodyguards, to protect them from the potential problems. Nike is relying on players that are bright, businesslike, using the protections of the advisor team.

If all of that breaks down, Nike doesn't get its money's worth, and it is NOT left to a criminal court, to trigger the contract clause.

The contract may trigger on a mere accusation. Nike isn't stupid enough, to subject its business interests, to a jury with an OJ Jury IQ.

[#3Fan]

One of your exceptions to "generally" is LA, isn't it? :^)

[truth_seeker]

"And again, Google has enough examples of this, that it will make you want to vomit...."

google, google, google...

Kobe gets a salary from the Lakers, for playing ball.

He gets incrementally more money for endorsements, for an image. If he doesn't retain the image that they are paying him for, he misses out on the payments.

If he doesn't wish to expose himself to loss of endorsements money, under MORALS CLAUSES he will avoid consentual sex, in hotels, with unknown 19 year olds.

Think of it like this: It is a month to month (or year to year) rental agreement. Kobe rents his "good image" so long as it has value.

He degraded the value. The image is his, to do with as he pleases. If it is worth less, for WHATEVER REASON, it is still worth less.

I doubt you will get it, for you seem to think he should have all his sources of income, unless found guilty in a court.

That is naive, on your part. Later, this is going to be about loss of freedom (prison time) and not just loss of some money.

It is a violent, felony charge. The DA charged him, after physical evidence was studied, and reviewed with other DAs.

Give a few days thought, to how much effort one expends, on defending such behavior.

[Hodar]

Consider cinFLA's post (#121). You are neglecting the possiblity that the accused may be innocent. IF he is guilty, then he SHOULD lose everything; but if he is not and this is an extortion attempt - he is being unfairly treated in the press. Jordan got AIDs from his exploits, Irving boasted of over 3,000 'adventures'. So, having sex is not the issue that affects his "moral" marketability.

[truth_seeker]

"So, having sex is not the issue that affects his "moral" marketability."

It is image. Rock Hudson kept secret his homosexuality, because he probably would have been MUCH less opular.

Kobe gets paid to keep his image good. If that changes (and that includes consentual adultrous sex) my guess is Nike has wiggle room, and can get out of paying.

It may even be that the Lakers don't have to pay him for paying basketball, if he can't due to prison term.

A basic concept of commercial law is "equity." It is equitable that Nike doesn't have to pay, for something which no longer exists (that being Kobe's good image).

If he is falsely accused, and can prove it, he can sue the false accuser for damages. Such damages might be the loss of his endorsement income.

You indicated I was ignoring the possibility that Kobe is innocent. That is not so.

I am saying that even if Kobe is innocent, there are many reasons why his endorsement contract might wish to cancel. Neither of us know the terms of those contracts.

But I know enough about contract law, to reasonably expect the companies do have various reasons to cancel, or early terminate. Under discussion is the "Morals Clause."

[alrea]

proof of force

however, this is a very cool shoe name

[Joe 6-pack]

"...however, this is a very cool shoe name..."

I think the Nike Slammer evokes multiple images for an NBA star in Kobe's predicament...all of which may be appropriate!

[solitas]

Out of curiousity, would anybody have a list of all bryant's sponsors/advertising deals?

[KQQL]