Britney Facing Skechers Countersuit
 Britney
Spears is facing a federal countersuit filed by footwear company Skechers -
claiming the pop princess is guilty of fraud and breach of contract.
Skechers claim the "Oops!...I Did
It Again" star is responsible for a failed celebrity endorsement deal to
the tune of more than $10 million in punitive damages, plus Spears' original
paycheck of $1.3 million.
The sexy singer, who lent her name to a
signature collection of skating merchandise, Britney 4 Wheelers, allegedly
interfered with manufacturing, design and advertising decisions - causing
production delays that cost the footwear company millions in lost sales.
In a statement released on Wednesday, a
Skechers spokesperson said the company was "continuously shut down,
rejected and ignored," all while the singer "fraudulently
induced" a sponsorship deal out of the company for her 2001-2002 tour.
Spears filed her own $1.5 million
federal breach-of-contract lawsuit in December 2002.
She claimed the Los Angeles-based
company improperly sported her face on advertising for its line of regular
roller skates, instead of Spears' signature skating line - costing the performer
her Christmas sales bonus.
Skechers' defense is that by the time
Spears finally got around to picking her color palette, the company had missed
its chance to get the Britney blades into stores in time for "key selling
seasons."
In her suit, Spears blamed Skechers for
the production delays, alleging the company had failed to find a middle-man
business that could manufacture her Britney Brands, Inc. skates in a timely
manner.
In addition, she accused the shoe firm
of misleading customers by using her image in ads for Skechers' existing
merchandise before the singer-endorsed skates and accessories could hit store
shelves.
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