Irish journalist reporting on Armstrong’s legal case:
Former professional cyclist, Lance Armstrong, has been ordered by Judge Melissa Damian to appear in court on April 20th, alongside the legal team representing influencers. The conference aims to bring awareness of Armstrong’s alleged harassment towards plaintiffs’ counsel. The order was filed on April 12th in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles in 2012 for doping, has been involved in a legal battle with the US government since 2013. The government sued Armstrong for fraud, claiming he defrauded taxpayers by accepting millions of dollars in sponsorship money while using performance-enhancing drugs.
The lawsuit was initially filed by Armstrong’s former teammate, Floyd Landis, under the False Claims Act. Landis accused Armstrong of defrauding the government by accepting sponsorship money from the US Postal Service while using performance-enhancing drugs. The government joined the lawsuit in 2013, seeking $100 million in damages.
Armstrong eventually settled the case in 2018, agreeing to pay $5 million to the government. However, the settlement did not resolve a separate lawsuit filed by Landis and other plaintiffs, which accuses Armstrong of fraud and conspiracy.
The case has been ongoing for years, with Armstrong and his legal team fighting to have it dismissed. In 2019, a judge denied Armstrong’s motion to dismiss the case, allowing it to proceed to trial.
The latest order from Judge Damian appears to be related to the ongoing lawsuit. The order does not provide any details about the alleged harassment by Armstrong, but it suggests that the issue has become a concern for the plaintiffs’ counsel.
Armstrong has not commented on the order or the allegations of harassment. It is unclear what will happen at the conference on April 20th, but it is likely that Armstrong and his legal team will be asked to address the allegations.
The case has been closely watched by the cycling world and the public, as Armstrong was once considered one of the greatest cyclists of all time. His fall from grace has been a cautionary tale about the dangers of doping in sports, and his legal battles have highlighted the complex legal issues surrounding fraud and sponsorship in professional sports.
As the legal battle continues, it remains to be seen how it will ultimately be resolved. For now, Armstrong and his legal team will have to appear in court on April 20th to address the allegations of harassment.
