Bias v. Advantage International, Inc. case brief

Bias v. Advantage International, Inc. case brief

905 F.2d 1558

CASE SYNOPSIS: Plaintiff estate of deceased basketball player filed an action against defendants, company advisor of the player and the particular representative to the player, for failure to obtain a life insurance policy on the player and failure to finalize a contract between the player and a company prior to the player's death. The United States District Court for the District of Columbia granted summary judgment to defendants. The estate appealed.

FACTS: The district court held that the estate did not suffer any damage from defendants' alleged failure to obtain life insurance for the player. The district court concluded that defendants could not be held liable for failing to produce a finished endorsement contract before the player's death because defendants had no independent reason to expedite the signing of the endorsement contract to the extent argued by the estate. On appeal, the court affirmed the decision of the district court.

HOLDING:

The court held that the estate was not entitled to reach the jury merely on the supposition that the jury might not believe defendants' witnesses.

ANALYSIS:

Because the estate failed to do more than show that there was some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts, the district court properly concluded that there was no genuine issue of material fact as to the insurability of the player, a drug user. The court held that neither the language of the representation agreement between the player and defendants nor any other evidence could support a finding that defendants breached any duty to the player by failing to push to obtain a signed contract on the day of negotiations prior to the player's death.

CONCLUSION: The court affirmed the district court's award of summary judgment in favor of defendants.

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