Rock & Republic Suits Filed
Two former business associates of denim maven Michael Ball have filed lawsuits against the founder of Rock & Republic, the Culver City, Calif.–based premium-denim maker, accusing Ball of extortion, assault and breach of contract to the tune of $1 million. Ball, who plays up his bad-boy image, has credited the success of his 5-year-old, rock-inspired brand to his troubled youth, which included a stint in jail.
On June 18, Fred Naggar, former Rock & Republic consultant and owner of A&F Apparel, the brand’s Canadian distributor, filed a $500,000 lawsuit in New York Supreme Court against Ball and Rock & Republic, alleging breach of contract, assault and battery, wrongful eviction, and intentional infliction of emotional stress.
According to the suit, Naggar joined the denim maker in 2003 and ran the brand’s sales, merchandising, distribution and public relations until December 2005, when Ball became jealous of Naggar’s influence and strong-armed him into resigning. Naggar, who also accuses Ball of illegally evicting him from two apartments he sublet from Ball, alleges that Rock & Republic owes him more than $400,000 in compensatory damages. The situation came to a head in May, when Ball shattered a glass on Naggar’s back at a New York bar during the Intermezzo Collections trade show, according to court documents. Naggar is seeking $500,000 in unpaid commissions, punitive damages and legal fees.
In January, photographer Markus Klinko filed a suit in New York Supreme Court after shooting Rock & Republic’s Spring 2007 ad campaign in exchange for prominent credit on the images and the promise of future paid shoots for the brand.
According to the suit, Ball hired Klinko to shoot the ad campaign but refused to use the images or compensate Klinko after he discovered that the photographer was romantically involved with Ball’s former fianceacute;e. Klinko also accuses Ball of extortion in the suit, claiming that Ball tried to use sexually explicit images of Klinko as leverage against the photographer in exchange for his silence. Ball, the suit said, was afraid his former fianceacute;e had divulged damaging personal information to his romantic rival. The suit seeks $500,000 in damages for breach of contract, interference with prospective business relations, extortion, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Ball declined to comment on either lawsuit.—Erin Barajas
