Thread: Man suing Michael Jordan because he looks like him

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Man didn't ask to be like Mike, so he's suing
Court - Allen Ray Heckard says his resemblance to Michael Jordan is distressing, and he wants the star and Phil Knight to pay
Saturday, July 08, 2006
HOLLY DANKS
The Oregonian
HILLSBORO -- Michael Jordan made a bushel of money shooting baskets and pitching Nike products.

Allen Ray Heckard, a 51-year-old Northeast Portland man, says he has been told he looks like Jordan. Now he wants some of that fortune for the pain and suffering of having a famous face.

Heckard, an airport shuttle driver and auto detailer with a prison record for drug possession, filed a lawsuit in Washington County Circuit Court last week asking for $416 million from the former basketball star and another $416 million from Nike founder Phil Knight.

Although 3 inches shorter, about 25 pounds lighter and 8 years older than Jordan, Heckard says he is constantly mistaken for His Airness. Like Jordan, he is African American, has a shaved head and wears a pierced earring in his left ear.

In the suit, Heckard says he is denied "the right to live a normal life" because he cannot attend a religious service or public functions, go to movies, ride public transportation, go shopping or play sports in public parks "without continually being harassed by the public of looking like michael jordan (sic)."

Acting as his own attorney, Heckard plunked down the $206 fee on June 29 to file the lawsuit. He is demanding $52 million from each defendant for "defamation and permanent injury" and $364 million from each in punitive damages for "emotional pain and suffering."

Heckard refused an interview with The Oregonian, saying he was on a local television newscast and that was going to be it for public comment.

Wearing Nike Air Jordan shoes, Heckard told KGW(8), "Don't get me wrong, it's definitely a positive thing, because Michael, like I say, is one of the best ballplayers that I've known to play the game. But then again, that's Michael and I'm me."

If Nike officials are laughing, it's in private.

"We don't believe the suit to have merit and will move to dismiss it," said Theresa Tran, director of communications for the Jordan brand at Nike.

"Basically, everybody has a right to have their day in court," said Stephen V. Piucci, past president of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and a specialist in personal injury litigation for a Portland law firm.

And Heckard's day, he said, "is going to be short."

Holly Danks: 503-221-4377; hollydanks@news.oregonian.com

I think I'll sue coz I don't look like Pamela Anderson and therefore I have been denied making a ton of money for my boobs.

aaaaaawwwwwww you poor thing.........you should sue.........that is really truly bad. You've lost out on a lot of money.........crazybird
You got long blonde hair?

Used to till I cut it.

Don't have the boobs either but I could if I only got the money first.