Shaquille O’Neal, the former American professional basketball player, has been served with two complaints, according to the law firm representing a class-action lawsuit against failed crypto exchange FTX and the celebrities who appeared in ads and promotional material for the exchange.
A process server reportedly reached O’Neal during the broadcast of the Miami Heat versus the Boston Celtics game in Miami, Florida, and the process server filmed the event to ensure there’s no ambiguity, according to The Moskowitz Law Firm. The firm also alleges that O’Neal had the process server kicked out of the Kaseya Arena (formerly known as the FTX Arena) where the game was being played.
In the past, O’Neal has distanced himself from FTX after its bankruptcy in November, claiming that he was “just a paid spokesperson” in an interview to CNBC in December.
“How can he continue to say he was just a paid spokesperson when the SEC has already issued 13 orders, clearly telling celebrities that if you promote “unregistered securities” (not slices of pizza) you may be liable for aiding and abetting the sale of an unregistered security, which is a crime and you are liable for all of the losses,” said Adam Moskowitz, one of the lawyers on the case, in an email to MarketWatch.
“The law on this point is crystal clear. In the new complaint, he even had his son and business partner, both making tons of money, for promoting these securities and now he has run for the hills, leaving hundreds of his fans with nothing.”
A representative for O’Neal did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This isn’t the first time that the lawyers representing the plaintiffs claim to have served O’Neal. In April, the lawyers said that a process server had reached O’Neal outside his home and served him, but O’Neal’s lawyers said that the papers had been thrown at his car and didn’t count as properly serving a lawsuit.
“It seems absurd to have to go to such great lengths to serve Mr. O’Neal, who is deputy of the law,” said Moskowitz, in a statement. “These claims now are very serious and thus it is good that we can start with the merits, instead of the silly service sideshow Mr. O’Neal unfortunately created.”
Lawyers have tried to serve him via Twitter DMs, but in April a judge overlooking the case denied the motion. Despite being 7’1 ” tall, Shaq has been difficult to pin down.
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