Only five days prior to the finals of The American's third consecutive year of paying out a $2 million purse in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, a record for a single-performance rodeo, one of last year's contestants has filed a lawsuit against the defendants Rural Media Group Inc., RFD-TV LLC and RFD-TV Events LLC, doing business as RMG Events, who sponsor The American.
Whether the timing of this lawsuit was strategically planned or not, Reese Riemer, a tie-down roper from Stinnett, Texas, filed a lawsuit in the Northern District of Texas Amarillo Division, on Tuesday, Feb. 23, for their failing to pay his winnings from RFD-TV's 2015 The American rodeo competition. Following qualification and semifinals competitions, the Finals of this year's event is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. at AT&T Stadium.
THE LAWSUIT:
According to the lawsuit, prior to the 2015 event, the contestants were told that the first-place winner of each event would be awarded $100,000 each, whether the winner was an automatic invitational contestant, or a qualifier (like Reese) who partook in the qualification process and the semifinals. Each first-place winner was also entitled to take home nearly $50,000 in prizes, including a new Polaris Ranger ATV and a champion's saddle, among other prizes. Additionally, if a qualifier won his event, he would be entitled to a share of a $1 million side pot: To win a share of the $1 million, a qualifier must win their event at RFD-TV's The American, beating out the best in the world."
The lawsuit went on to say that on March 1, 2015, RFD-TV broadcasted and presented The American Rodeo. Reese won first place in his event and had an automatic invitation to the American Rodeo. By winning first place in his event outright, Reese was awarded $100,000, a new Polaris ATV, a champion's saddle and other prizes. Additionally, since he was a qualifier who placed first in his event, he was entitled to a share of the $1 million side pot.
Taylor Price, the first-place winner of the bareback riding competition was also a qualifier and eligible to a share of the $1 million side pot, so Reese and Taylor were entitled to split the $1 million side pot, as no other qualifiers placed first in their events. The suit contends that at the conclusion of the 2015 event, the Defendant's website declared Reese the winner and promoted the fact that he shared in the million-dollar purse.
THE PROBLEM BEGINS:
However, this is when the problem began. On March 3, 2015, K.C. Jones, a qualifier who tied with an invitational contestant in the steer-wrestling event, challenged The American rules regarding tie breakers. Randy Bernard, the CEO of RFD-TV, told Reese that RFD-TV agreed to pay K.C. Jones a share of the side pot and that $83,000 would be deducted from his winnings and from Taylor's winnings. In a broadcast, Bernard claimed that he and Reese agreed to allow K.C. Jones to take a piece of Reese's winnings; however, Reese claims no such conversation took place. On March 4, 2015, Reese was issued a check from RMG Events LLC for $517,000, reflecting the $83,000 deduction that RFD-TV awarded to K. C. Jones.
The champion saddle was received by Reese and a Polaris Ranger ATV was delivered to the Riemer Ranch.
On March 5, Patrick Gottsch, owner and founder of RFD-TV called Reese and questioned him about "rumors that the qualifiers in the tie-down roping competition had made a deal to split the bonus pool regardless of the outcome." Reese assured Gottsch no deal had been made; however, he was informed that a stop payment had been put on his check for $517,000 due to the rumors. According to the lawsuit, "Gottsch threatened Reese with prison time and told him to obtain a lawyer."
OTHER LAWSUIT CLAIMS:
The lawsuit also claims that RFD-TV capitalized on Reese's name and likeness in the news media, including building up goodwill to promote the 2016 The American, continuing to declare him as the winner of the 2015 The American Rodeo tie-down Roping competition, despite the fact they reneged on their promises.
The lawsuit claims a Breach of Contract, seeking out-of-pocket damages and a judgment against the defendants in the amount of $600,000 plus attorney fees, pre-judgment interest at the maximum non-usurious rate, all taxable court costs, other relief justly entitled and demands a trial by Jury.
Attorneys listed for Riemer are John Thomas and Jody Sheets of Hicks Thomas LLP, of Houston and Amarillo, Texas, and Sacramento, Calif. According to the Summons, the defendants must answer the complaint or motion under Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, within 21 days after service of the summons dated Feb. 23, 2016.
Click for copy of original complaint>>
