tom brady

FTX victims’ lawyers struggle to serve Shaquille O’Neal

The Moskowitz law firm has been standing outside NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal’s studio all week to “hand deliver” their legal complaint with no success, according to a recent statement.

The law firm representing victims affected by the FTX collapse has made a public plea to NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal, asking him to show “courtesy and honor” by actually acknowledging their legal complaint after several unsuccessful attempts.

In an April 14 tweet, The Moskowitz Law Firm revealed its team have been standing outside O’Neal’s TNT studios in Atlanta “all week” to serve him on behalf of FTX investors, in regard to his previous endorsement of the now-defunct crypto exchange.

However, it was noted that O’Neal’s security guards have not let them in.

It was emphasized that O’Neal is the only one among the “FTX celebrities” – referring to the class action lawsuit filed against several celebrities for endorsing FTX, including Tom Brady, Steph Curry and Larry David – who has not yet been served.

The law firm stated that O’Neal has been “running” from them “for 3 months” and should show the courtesy and honor by allowing their process servers to deliver the legal complaint on his behalf, so he can defend his “actions in this matter.”

This comes after an April 7 court filing stated that numerous attempts have been made in various locations to serve O’Neal, but all have been unsuccessful. The filing stated:

“Mr. O’Neal is the sole remaining defendant in this matter who has still not been served. Despite Plaintiffs’ dozens of attempts in multiple states and countries, to either effect service on him or have him (or a designated agent) accept service of process.”

According to the court filing, the legal courier in Texas received a threatening message after making the “eighth most recent attempt” to serve O’Neal at his Texas residence. 

The message mentioned the process server’s wife, Beth Shaw, stating, “shaq lives in the Bahamas u stupid fuck give beth shaw my regards.”

Source: Case No. 1:22-cv-23753-KMM : dgmagstatic.com

The plaintiffs stated that it is “finally time” to start attempting to contact O’Neal via other means, such as “direct messages to his verified social media accounts,” according to the court filing.

Related: Celebs who got burned endorsing crypto and those that got away with it

This comes after it was reported on March 9 that U.S. District judge Kevin Moore is considering dismissing both O’Neal and tennis athlete Naomi Osaki from the lawsuit, after pointing out that it is unclear whether the two had been served.

A paperless order was issued by Moore, giving FTX customers until December to provide justification on why both stars should be included in the lawsuit.

Magazine: Can you trust crypto exchanges after the collapse of FTX?

FTX victims’ lawyers struggle to serve Shaquille O’Neal

The Moskowitz law firm has been standing outside NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal’s studio all week to “hand deliver” the legal complaint with no success, according to a recent statement.

The law firm representing victims affected by the FTX collapse has made a public plea to NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal, asking him to show “courtesy and honor” by acknowledging its legal complaint after several unsuccessful attempts.

In an April 14 tweet, The Moskowitz Law Firm revealed its team has been standing outside TNT studios in Atlanta all week – where O’Neal is employed as a television host – to serve him on behalf of FTX investors regarding his previous endorsement of the now-defunct crypto exchange.

“Your security guards will not let us in, to just hand deliver our legal complaint,” it was added.

It was emphasized that O’Neal is the only one among the “FTX celebrities,” which referred to the class-action lawsuit filed against several celebrities for endorsing FTX, including Tom Brady, Steph Curry and Larry David, who has not yet been served.

The law firm stated that O’Neal has been “running” from them “for 3 months” and should show courtesy and honor by allowing its process servers to deliver the legal complaint on his behalf so that he can defend his “actions in this matter.“

This comes after an April 7 court filing stated that numerous attempts had been made in various locations to serve O’Neal, but all have been unsuccessful. The filing stated:

“Mr. O’Neal is the sole remaining defendant in this matter who has still not been served. Despite Plaintiffs’ dozens of attempts in multiple states and countries, to either effect service on him or have him (or a designated agent) accept service of process.”

According to the court filing, the process server in Texas, Mr Shaw, received a threatening message after making the “eighth most recent attempt” to serve O’Neal at his Texas residence. 

The message mentioned Shaw’s wife, Beth Shaw, stating, “shaq lives in the Bahamas u stupid fuck give beth shaw my regards.”

Text of a message received by a process server in Texas. Source: Case No. 1:22-cv-23753-KMM: dgmagstatic.com

It was further stated that the plaintiffs believe it is “finally time” to start attempting to contact O’Neal via other means, such as “direct messages to his verified social media accounts.“

Related: Celebs who got burned endorsing crypto and those that got away with it

This comes after it was reported on March 9 that United States District judge Kevin Moore is considering dismissing both O’Neal and tennis athlete Naomi Osaki from the lawsuit after pointing out that it is unclear whether the two had been served.

A paperless order was issued by Moore, giving FTX customers until December 2023 to provide justification on why both stars should be included in the lawsuit.

Magazine: Can you trust crypto exchanges after the collapse of FTX?

Texas to probe FTX endorsements by Tom Brady, Stephen Curry and other celebs

The Texas State Securities Board is scrutinizing payments received by celebrities to endorse FTX US as part of a wider probe into FTX’s collapse.

NFL quarterback Tom Brady and NBA point guard Stephen Curry are reportedly among the celebrities facing a probe from the Texas financial regulator over their promotion of the now-bankrupt crypto exchange, FTX. 

Joe Rotunda, director of enforcement at the Texas State Securities Board, reportedly told Bloomberg in a Nov. 22 report that the Texas State Securities Board is scrutinizing payments received by celebrities to endorse FTX US, what disclosures were made and how accessible they were for investors.

Rotunda however noted that while the watchdog was taking a “close look at them,” the celebrities’ endorsements of FTX were not an “immediate priority,” but would be part of the “regulator’s larger probe into FTX’s collapse.”

Both Brady and Curry have also been named in a Nov. 15 class-action lawsuit against FTX, along with former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried.

The lawsuit alleged that they “controlled, promoted, assisted in, and actively participated” in FTX Trading LTD and West Realm Shires Services Inc.

Others named in the class action include model Gisele Bündchen, the Golden State Warriors basketball team, NBA player Udonis Haslem and co-creator of Seinfeld Larry David.

Cointelegraph reached out to the Texas State Securities Board for comment but did not receive a reply before publication.

Related: The SEC should be aiming at Do Kwon, but it’s getting distracted by Kim Kardashian

In the past, surveys have found that nearly half of retail investors will follow digital asset advice from the social media accounts of celebrities and influencers without question, and this has seen more than a few use their influence to shill crypto products and projects.

In October, reality TV star Kim Kardashian was fined by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for “touting on social media” about the EMAX without disclosing she was paid $250,000 to post about it.

Kardashian has neither admitted to nor denied the SEC’s allegations, but settled the charges and agreed not to promote any cryptocurrency assets until 2025.