By Cody Monk -- Dallas Morning News
Friday, June 18, 1999
The hammer the WWF had been expecting fell Tuesday in Kansas City.
Martha Hart, widow of Owen Hart, filed a 46-count lawsuit against the WWF in Jackson County, Mo. The suit names 13 defendants, including the WWF's parent company, Titan Sports, and its owner Vince McMahon and the employees who provided the harness and cabling system at the event in which Hart died. Hart was killed May 23 at the WWF's "Over the Edge" pay-per-view at Kemper Arena in Kansas City when he fell 78 feet into the ring.
Missouri law prevents the Harts from asking for a specific damage amount. Instead, they asked the jury for an amount that is "fair and reasonable."
In the suit, Martha Hart asks that those responsible for Owen's death should be held accountable and that "no other wrestler for the WWF or any other show be subjected to the same unsafe, dangerous demands that are increasingly becoming a part of wrestling entertainment."
Martha specifically referred to the contracts between the WWF and its wrestlers, which she said were one-sided and limit the WWF's liability in certain situations. She added that a number of wrestlers have grown unhappy with WWF contracts because, she said, they tend to benefit the WWF.
The WWF, however, said that any contract signed is done after negotiating in good faith and agreeing upon what is fair to both sides.
"Our guys are independent contractors," said Jim Byrne, WWF senior vice president of marketing. "Our guys are very happy. We know that because they tell us that. We get feedback from them and have great two-way dialogue."
Reporters were not allowed to ask questions during the Harts' news conference, but Owen's brother, Brett "The Hit Man" Hart, said it would be a while until he gets back into the ring. Brett, who is not part of the lawsuit, said he will not have a public comment until the lawsuit is resolved.
WHEN IT RAINS...
First it was Rena Mero (Sable), then the Hart family's lawsuit, but this lawsuit caught almost every WWF official by surprise. Jumping on the lawsuit bandwagon this week is former Kuwait television reporter Bassam Al Othman, who is suing the WWF for $1 million. The suit is a result of an incident in 1997 when Vadar (Leon White) "roughed up" Othman after the host's remarks about wrestling. Othman maintains that the attack caused him public scorn and tarnished his good name.
"We have no idea what this is," said Jim Byrne, WWF senior vice president of marketing. "No one seems to have any idea. We haven't even been served with a suit."
Hart Family Sues WWF
OR
The Unwrapped Undertaker
