FaZe Clan files to dismiss Tfue’s case, explains New York countersuit
The legal battle between Turner “Tfue” Tenney and FaZe Clan continues.
FaZe has reportedly filed to dismiss Tfue’s lawsuit from Californian courts in an attempt to move the case to New York. According to Dexerto’s Richard Lewis, Tfue’s contract states that any legal disputes between the player and organization must be settled in New York Courts.
This comes after FaZe Clan filed a countersuit in New York federal court in August, claiming Tfue had breached his contract and “damaged the brand” in his attempts to split from the team.
Tfue’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, was interviewed by TMZ in August and claimed that FaZe is trying to move the process to New York because the organization knows it can’t win under Californian laws.
“Filing the lawsuit in New York is actually an admission that Faze Clan has no defense to these violations of California law”, Freedman stated. “Ask yourself, why is Faze Clan is afraid to litigate its wrongful conduct in California? The answer is obvious. Faze Clan will lose.”
Tfue’s legal claims against FaZe focus in on California’s Talent Agency Act, claiming the organization violates the law through its business and sponsorship practices. Tfue’s legal team has resisted attempts to take the case out of Californian courts, claiming FaZe has no cause to move the case to New York as the esports organization does not maintain any operations within the state.
FaZe lead attorney Manny J. Caixero responded to this in the motion to dismiss. He noted that FaZe maintained an office in New York at the time of Tfue’s signing and was headquartered in the state in 2016. He also stated New York serves as a “neutral location” for FaZe’s international stable of talent, while also citing that Tfue is legally a resident of Florida and has never had a permanent address in California.
Tfue’s case against FaZe would be seriously weakened if the judge agrees with FaZe’s legal team. The legal battle would not end there however, as it would instead have to play out under New York law.