WITH Manny Pacquiao’s case against his estranged US promoter Murad Muhammad slated to be heard starting June 20 in New York, Pacquiao’s lawyers Judd Burstein and Keith Davidson quietly blew into town early Tuesday morning.
Although there have been reports that the Ring Magazine featherweight king was scheduled to leave for New York to attend the hearings, Burstein and Davidson apparently want to make sure they are able to meet with Pacquiao personally before the hearing.
Sources say the lawyers are also in Manila to collect further information and evidence pertinent to the case. Pacquiao is suing the flamboyant Murad for $20 million in damages and $13 million on five claims for relief.
The popular boxer from General Santos City charged that Murad had shortchanged him in the fights the latter arranged for him in the United States for the past seven years.
Also implicated is long-time Pacquiao business manager Rod Nazario whom his lawyers have pointed to as the one responsible for the non-payment of Pacquiao’s taxes in the US.
Nazario, married to Supreme Court Justice Minita Chico-Nazario, has denied the allegations.
The case has been assigned to Federal Court Judge Loretta Preska of the Southern District of New York. Preska has ordered “an expedited jury trial,” a move welcomed by both camps.
Nicholas Kahn, another lawyer for Pacquiao, has hailed the move as “a big victory for (Pacquiao). A protracted and long drawn-out trial is the least thing we wanted.”
Pacquiao is busy overseeing the Metro Gensan basketball tournament which he bankrolled with a P300,000 donation.
