Judge Considers Dismissing Shaquille ONeal and Naomi Osaka from FTX Lawsuit

In recent news, a federal judge in Florida, United States, is considering dismissing former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal and tennis athlete Naomi Osaka from the FTX lawsuit. The judge pointed out that it is unclear whether the two sports stars have been served, and instructed the plaintiffs to provide cause as to why O’Neal and Osaka should not be dismissed from the suit. The judge gave the FTX customers until December to show cause.

In another order issued on March 9, U.S. District Judge Kevin Moore reprimanded other celebrity defendants, including Tom Brady, Gisele Bündchen, Kevin O’Leary, David Ortiz, and Trevor Lawrence, for not following proper procedure in requesting a time extension for a scheduled conference. The judge clarified that the request should have come from the plaintiff’s side, and instructed the conference to proceed as scheduled, or for the plaintiff to move for an extension of time to hold the conference.

As cases against FTX continue to pile up, some plaintiffs have requested the consolidation of lawsuits against the bankrupt exchange. However, on March 8, U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Corley denied the consolidation request, highlighting that the defendants have not yet been allowed to respond. This means that the lawsuits will proceed separately for now.

On the same day, lawyers representing former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried noted that it might be necessary to push back the criminal trial scheduled to start in October 2023. While the lawyers did not formally request a date change, they pointed out that it may be needed because they are still waiting for evidence to be turned over, and Bankman-Fried accumulated more charges in February.

The FTX lawsuit was filed by customers who claimed that the cryptocurrency exchange had been involved in illegal market manipulation and trading practices that caused them financial harm. FTX has denied the allegations and filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The case is still ongoing, with multiple parties involved in the proceedings.

Overall, the FTX lawsuit continues to be a complex and evolving legal matter, with various parties involved in the proceedings. The recent developments highlight the need for proper procedure and adherence to court orders, as well as the potential for further delays in the criminal trial involving former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. It remains to be seen how the case will unfold in the coming months.