North Texas Toyota Dealers Sue Football Player

08/22/96

United Press International has reported that the North Texas Toyota Dealers have filed a lawsuit against the Dallas Cowboys' wide-receiver, Michael Irvin. The dealers Association alleges that Irvin's drug and sex scandal affected car sales soon after the dealers launched a new advertising campaign starring the football player.

The Association's suit demands $1.2 million, from Irvin, claiming that publicity surrounding his lifestyle forced them to scrap an ad campaign that was supposed to run for a year--instead the delears pulled the campaign after a month. The campaign lasted from February to March. The dealers also demanded that Irvin return a $50,000 Toyota Land Cruiser, which was part of the advertisement package.

On July 15 Irvin pleaded no contest to drug charges after he was caught with two topless dancers, both of whom face charges, in an motel room on March 4, in Irving, TX. Irvin was suspended from the Cowboys' first five regular season games this year.

Larry Friedman, attorney for the dealers association, said that Irvin's arrest came exactly three weeks after he'd signed a contract to do commercials for the North Texas Toyota Dealers.

Friedman told Dallas radio station WBAP that the scandal forced the dealers to cancel production of the campaign, and that lack of media exposure that resulted in fewer walk-ins, stunted sales.

A condition of the dealers' contract with Irvin stipulated that it could be canceled if Irvin were convicted of a felony involving "moral turpitude."

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel