Six former Florida State players have filed lawsuit against head coach Leonard Hamilton over unpaid NIL compensation, Yahoo Sports Senior College Football Reporter Ross Dellenger reported on Monday morning. The plaintiffs, all former players who departed the program after last season, allege Hamilton promised each of them $250,000 in NIL payments from the coach’s “business partners”. The six plaintiffs named are Darin Green, Josh Nickelberry, Primo Spears, Cam’ron Fletcher, De’Ante Green, and Jalen Warley. The legal complaint was filed in Florida’s Leon County circuit court.
The full report from Dellenger and Yahoo Sports can be found here.
The plaintiffs acknowledged within the documents that they boycotted a practice last season over the missed payments. The boycotted practice was prior to FSU’s home loss to Duke.
They “walked out of the gym” during practice to show their frustration over the unpaid NIL promises and they intended to boycott the game as well, the claim says. Hamilton discovered the plan and, in a meeting in the team’s film room, re-emphasized that the money would be in the players’ accounts the very next week.
Some further details from the report:
The players never received the payments despite Hamilton promising the money to each member of the 2023-24 team in two separate team meetings as well as in individual conversations with some players and their families. Several players transferred to Florida State under the assurance that they would receive the money.
As evidence of the NIL promises, the complaint includes multiple text-message exchanges among players, between players and Hamilton, and between players and Will Cowen, an executive with one of Florida State’s NIL collectives (Rising Spear).
Dellenger’s reporting states that the lawsuit brings four counts against the coach: breach of contract, promissory estoppel (the recovery of promised damages), fraudulent misrepresentation and inducement, and negligent misrepresentations.
Plaintiffs request from the court an award of $250,000 each in compensatory damages, unspecific punitive and exemplary damages and interest at “high statutory rates.”
The suit was filed on behalf of the plaintiffs by Florida-based attorney Darren Heitner. Heitner, per the report, said the plaintiffs attempted to recoup the promised NIL pay and avoid litigation, but communication with FSU’s outside counsel could not resolve the matter.
Further details, including text messages between the players, Cowen, and Hamilton, are discussed here.
