As lawyers for a woman accusing soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo of sexual assault seek to void a non-disclosure agreement, lawyers with high-profile clients are keeping a close eye on the outcome.
"These agreements can be drafted in many ways," attorney Malcolm LaVergne, who represents high-profile clients including O.J. Simpson said of non-disclosure agreements.
The NDAs once again coming to public view as a Las Vegas woman has filed suit against Ronaldo, seeking to void an agreement she made shortly after filing sexual assault charges against the soccer star in 2009.
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"It is a tough situation in cases like that where you have the Cristiano Ronaldos, the President Trumps, who pay what we call when you think of as these nuisance values," LaVergne said. "There was money paid to this person, she signed an agreement. I don't know who all signed the agreement, but she certainly signed it and now she is bound to keep her mouth shut."
LaVergne said he read the current 32-page filing seeking to void the NDA signed years ago when the woman's lawyers admit she was paid $375,000 but hasn't seen the actual NDA itself.
In the recent filing, the woman's attorneys say she wasn't in a proper emotional state to agree to the non-disclosure and that's why they are seeking to overturn the document and pursue the original charges along with some additional allegations.
While he is is watching the outcome closely, LaVergne said there aren't many options for high-profile clients like Ronaldo, because trying to get the money paid for the NDA back is not realistic.
"His options really are to hire a law firm and have the lawsuit thrown out," LaVergne said.
In the future, LaVergne said if he is drafting an NDA for a high-profile client he will likely seek to have the other party's attorney sign the document as well in hopes of preserving the intention of the non-disclosure.
