Michael Jordan Awarded $8.9 Million in Dominick’s Grocery Store Court Ruling

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Now defunct grocery chain Dominick’s has lost in a big way to former NBA champion and current Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan.  As it turns out what appeared to be a harmless steak promotion (a $2 coupon) will become the costliest campaign in a supermarket’s history.   Yesterday, a Chicago jury ordered the chain to pay Jordan $8.9 million because they used his name on an ad without permission.  Parent company Safeway will be footing the bill since Dominick’s no longer exists.  The ad appeared in a 2009 issue of Sports Illustrated congratulating Jordan on his induction into the hall of fame.  Right below the message was a coupon good for two dollars off a Dominick’s steak.

“It is my name, and I’ve worked hard for it for 30-something years, and I’m not just going to let someone take it,” a happy-looking Jordan said outside the courthouse, reports the Chicago Tribune. Jordan says this case was more about principle than it was money.  Since Jordan is worth over a billion dollars we’d have to take his word on this one.  Jordan promised to donate the money to Chicago charities.   Jordan even plugged his own steakhouse after the verdict.

Written by Worthly