You can’t say that Larry Klayman, an attorney representing Liv Golf pro Patrick Reed, isn’t tenacious.
After having a lawsuit against Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee dismissed by a judge, Klayman has turned his attention towards CNN’s Jake Tapper and longtime sports broadcaster Bob Costas over a segment the two did on the cable news network.
After a segment discussing the court battle between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf—a segment that didn’t mention Reed by name—Klayman sent a letter demanding an on-air apology for what he alleges to be a highly defamatory piece. If an apology isn’t forthcoming, a civil suit seeking $450 million in damages was threatened.
Patrick Reed has threatened CNN, Jake Tapper, Bob Costas, and others with a massive defamation lawsuit.
This isn’t the first legal threat Reed has made since joining LIV Golf, either.https://t.co/o7squ3gogv
— OutKick (@Outkick) January 18, 2023
After calling for the apology, the letter goes on to tie Tapper’s criticism of LIV Golf with what he calls the anchor and network being “on a crusade to destroy [former President Donald] Trump.”
An excerpt from the letter reads:
“Tapper continues his unhinged vicious attacks on not just Trump but anyone and anything associated with him, such as LIV Golf, which simply played two events at the former president’s golfing venues in New Jersey and Florida last year, which LIV Golf payed (sic) for.”
In addition to the litigation against Chamblee and Golf Channel that was for $750 million in damages, Reed’s representation has also sued the New York Post, Fox Sports, the Associated Press and its writer Doug Ferguson, Golfweek columnist Eamon Lynch and its parent company Gannett.
Based on this response, it appears that Gannett isn’t taking the $250 million lawsuit too seriously.
absolutely HOWLING at Gannett/Golfweek’s response to Patrick Reed’s defamation suit lobbed at them
So glad we’ve reached this moment pic.twitter.com/eoWqOYN6SY
— Sean Zak (@Sean_Zak) January 15, 2023
Reed joined LIV Golf last year and is taking part in this weekend’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the DP World Tour.
LIV players are eligible for that series for the time being, but a ruling is expected on whether the DPWT can ban LIV golfers next month.
Cover Image Via Essentially Sports
