Bill Stapleton, Lance Armstrong's longtime agent, and Barton Knaggs, Armstrong’s longtime business partner, have agreed to pay $68,000 to the federal government and $90,000 to Floyd Landis’s lawyers to get out of the $100m lawsuit against the disgraced former cyclist. Landis had sued them and Armstrong on behalf of the United States government in a case that is due to go to trial in November.
In 2010, Landis accused Armstrong and his associates of defrauding the US government. The case regards whether or not federal funds acquired via the sponsorship of his team by the US Postal Service (USPS) were misused.
Should the case go against Armstrong, it could cost him up to $100 million – three times the amount USPS paid in sponsorship.
USA Today reports that as a result of this week’s settlement, Stapleton and Knaggs have been dismissed from the case. Landis's lawyer, Paul Scott, commented: “It allows us to focus our efforts and attention now on the upcoming trial of the central responsible party in the case.”
In 2014, Stapleton and Knaggs agreed to pay $600,000 to the same parties, but the federal government objected to the settlement, apparently in an effort to get more information out of Stapleton and Knaggs before trial.
Earlier this month, Armstrong’s lawyers filed a list of evidence they would like to see excluded from the trial, including the 2012 report produced by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and potential witnesses Betsy Andreu and Greg LeMond.
The deterrent effect is almost certainly due to the massively increased likelihood of the offence being detected. As with other crimes, if the...
As a member of the Co-op community (I live in a Housing Co-op) and a bike owner /rider, this is very sad news. We need more Co-ops not less.
My EV exceeds the size. It's the smallest vehicle available which can transport my wife's trike (excursions or rescue).
It is sad for the individuals concerned but (and this is a general point, rather than specific to this story), we're much better off overall for...
I agree with Pogacar regarding social media. The likes of Facebook, Instagram have done untold damage, especially to the minds of young people....
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If you're a cyclist on a road you are public enemy number 1.
He advocates only riding mountainbikes solely offroad for ultimate safety, which is great if you're a millionaire of leisure living in Colorado...
That looks like a fun bike. Frame only, 2 and an 1/2 grand.
Fair enough, personal experience may trump (not that one) theory. However, the bonking I have experienced has been due to lack of carbs. Your point...