Apr 27th 2024 10:28am

Sign Up / Sign In|Help

 

Ric Flair Sues Over Ads

Ric Flair Sues Over Ads

Posted: Oct 8th 2007 By: CMBurnham

World champion professional wrestler Ric ?Nature Boy? Flair would like to put a courtroom body slam on a Columbia car dealership.

In a federal lawsuit filed last week in Columbia, the 58-year-old Charlotte personality, whose real name is Richard Fliehr, contends that Stivers Automotive of Columbia Inc. through its Freedom Suzuki dealership used his name, likeness and slogans in radio, TV and print ads this year without his permission.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound-plus wrestling legend is asking for actual and punitive damages of more than $75,000 ? the threshold for filing federal lawsuits when one of the parties lives out of state.

The suit was filed Thursday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Columbia; Flair was spotted later that evening on the sidelines during the football game between USC and Kentucky at Williams-Brice Stadium.

?By using his name in an unauthorized fashion and not paying for it, it lessens the value of his persona that he has cultivated both in the ring and out of the ring over 34 years,? said his lawyer-agent, Eric Bland of Columbia, when contacted Thursday.

?Ric Flair is beloved in South Carolina by people of all ages due to the work he has done in and outside of the ring,? according to the suit.

Efforts to reach Flair were unsuccessful.

Contacted Friday, Columbia attorney W. Duvall Spruill of the Turner Padget law firm, which represents Stivers Automotive, said he could not comment on the suit until he had the chance to review it.

Efforts last week to reach Stivers Automotive officials were unsuccessful.

The suit accuses the car dealership of the unauthorized use of Flair?s trademark slogans, ?Woooooo!? and ?To be the man, you gotta beat the man!?

Flair in his lawsuit included transcripts of two locally run radio ads in August that he contends show his name and slogans were improperly used. A character calling himself ?Captain Freedom? says in one ad, ?Whoeee ... To be the man you got to beat the man! Rick (sic) Flair was right all you other car dealers out there.?

The character also encourages listeners to ?Come check out me and the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment)? at the Colonial Center on Aug. 21, according to the transcripts. The lawsuit said those ads ran during the time when Flair was scheduled to wrestle at a WWE event at the center.

Bland told The State that Stivers Automotive representatives earlier had contacted the WWE for permission to use Flair?s name in their ads, but that it was never granted.

The suit accuses the dealership of violating Flair?s publicity rights, unfair competition and trade practices, ?wrongful appropriation of personality,? and ?unjust enrichment.?

Besides seeking damages, the suit also calls on a judge to order the dealership to quit running the objectionable ads and to ?undertake curative advertising for a period of 90 days? to inform the public that the dealership has ?no connection with Ric Flair.?

Flair has been recognized as a 16-time world champion, though the number of championships varies depending on the source. According to the WWE Web site, Flair is known for his custom-tailored sequined ring robes and ?made his name on wrestling hour-long marathon matches, his cocky interview style, and his knack for shouting ?Woooooo!? into microphones.?

 

Tags: Ric Flair

Printable version Email to a friend

Supplemental Information

Latest News

1
Ron Garvin and Bob Roop: How Stealing a Title Led to Rebellion

Ron Garvin and Bob Roop: How Stealing a Title Led to Rebellion

On June 2, 1979, Ron Garvin hadn’t shown up to TV. The man with the hands of stone had defeated Alexis Smi... Read More

All News

The Scoop

The Scoop

NEWS Jinder Mahal says he quits, and he has reportedly parted ways with WWE. Former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal was back in the spotlight in January, as h... Read More

All Columns

1

Spotlight in History

  • 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion

Week of Sun 04-21 to Sat: 04-27

  • 04-21 1967 The Assassins (Assassin 1 & Assassin 2) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 04-21 1979 Mike George def. Jerry Stubbs for the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 04-21 2006 Ray Martinez became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 04-21 2007 Kareem Sadat def. K-Rob for the AACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-21 2007 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. The Re-Gex (Seth Shai & Mace) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-21 2017 Sam Stackhouse def. Spyder for the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-21 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-21 2018 The Untamed (Rex Andrews & Ryan Davidson) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 04-21 2023 Leo Fox def. Mr. Nasty for the UWE Apex Champion
  • 04-21 2023 Mr. Wobble def. Tego for the TexPro Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-21 2023 Mr. Wobble def. Tego for the TexPro Texas Champion
  • 04-21 2023 Franco D'Angelo def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Texas Champion
  • 04-21 2023 Franco D'Angelo def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-22 1940 Jesse James def. Danny McShain for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-22 1955 Ricki Starr def. Mike Clancy for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-22 1968 The Spoilers (Spoiler #1 & Spoiler #2/Smasher Sloan) def. Fritz Von Erich & Billy Red Lyons for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 04-22 1980 Terry Gordy def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW Louisiana Champion
  • 04-22 2006 Michael York def. Jon Davis for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-22 2016 Brock Landers def. Mascara La Parka for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 04-22 2016 Mascara La Parka def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 04-22 2017 Double D def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 04-22 2017 Nikki Knight def. Skylar Slice for the ComPro Ladies Champion
  • 04-22 2018 Chaz Sharpe became the ASP Inter-County Champion
  • 04-22 2018 Johnny Kove & Tristan Thorne became the ASP Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 04-22 2018 Damon Windsor def. Chandler Hopkins for the IWR Revolutionary Champion
  • 04-22 2022 Drake Gallows & Fester Cluck def. Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) for the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-22 2022 Duncan Kincaid became the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 04-22 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Tank Bryson & Malachi) def. X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) for the EPW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-22 2023 Devion Black def. Adrian Vega for the EPW All-American Champion
  • 04-22 2023 Logan Knight def. Gemini [2nd] for the EPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-23 1966 Ramon Torres def. Lorenzo Parente for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-23 1978 Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear def. Ernie Ladd & The Assassin for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 04-23 2004 Michael Barry became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-23 2006 Tyler Bateman def. Seth Allen for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 04-23 2006 Michael Faith became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-23 2016 Athena def. Erica for the IZW Queens Champion
  • 04-23 2022 The Blue Bolt def. Richie Adams for the WFC Prime Champion
  • 04-23 2022 Koko def. Reed for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 04-23 2022 Rhett def. Hornsby for the WFC Drillsville Champion
  • 04-24 1999 The Casualties of War (Grunt & Shrapnel) def. The East-West Express (J. J. Mustang & Joey Steiner) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 04-24 1999 Original Renegade def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-24 2004 Dexter Hardaway became the NWA-OK X Division Champion
  • 04-24 2004 Tejas def. Al Jackson for the NWA Texas Champion
  • 04-24 2015 Rick Russo & Largus RagnaBrok became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-25 1971 Dusty Rhodes def. Sputnik Monroe for the TSW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 04-25 2003 Ichiban [1st] became the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-25 2003 The Heatseekers (Karl Davis & Rick Styles) became the TPW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-25 2003 Outcast def. Tyler Bateman for the TPW Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Ky-Ote became the 3DW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Les Mayne became the 3DW Texoma Champion
  • 04-25 2008 2AM (Javi Hernandez & Kunna Keyoh) became the 3DW Dual Kombat Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Al Farat became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Frankie Dee became the 3DW Femme Fatale Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Joshua Smith def. Al Farat for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 04-25 2010 David Kyzer def. Outlaw for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 04-25 2010 David Kyzer became the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 04-25 2021 Brandon Barricade def. Red for the ASP All Time Champion
  • 04-25 2021 Maui Mike & Malik Mayfield became the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 04-26 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 04-26 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 04-26 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Champion
  • 04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
04-27
  • Yasu Fuji Apr 27th Today!
  • Siva Afi Apr 28th
  • Chance Snodgrass Apr 28th
  • Ichiban [2nd] Apr 28th
  • Sunshine Apr 29th
  • Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
  • Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
  • Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
  • Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
  • Prince Maivia May 1st
  • Kari Wright May 2nd
  • Americos May 2nd
  • Barrett Brown May 2nd
  • Don Fields May 2nd
  • Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
  • Big Bossman May 2nd
  • Lester Welch May 3rd
  • Lily McKenzie May 3rd
  • Johnny Humble May 3rd
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th
  • Malik Mayfield May 4th
  • El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
  • El Matador Dos May 5th
  • Shane Rawls May 5th
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
  • Olivier Vegos May 5th
  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th
  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
  • Zane Morris May 5th
  • Claire Watson May 6th
  • Hercules May 7th
  • Richie Adams May 8th
  • Jake Danielsson May 9th
  • Jerry Brown May 10th
  • Billy Brown May 10th
  • Sunny War Cloud May 10th
  • Rook Tyler May 10th
  • Tito Santana May 10th

More Look Back In History

Card Results

1