Mistrial declared in lawsuit against Williams sisters

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Dec. 13 — A judge declared a mistrial Tuesday in a lawsuit by promoters who contended Venus and Serena Williams reneged on a deal to play men in a proposed ''Battle of the Sexes'' tennis event in 2001.

Judge Jeffrey A. Winicoff granted a request for a mistrial by John Romano, attorney for promoters Carol Clarke and Keith Rhodes, after almost three weeks of testimony. It was not immediately clear if the case would return to court.

F. Malcolm Cunningham, lawyer for the Williams sisters, said the mistrial was declared after one of the attorneys for their father, Richard Williams, asked Clarke if someone else had given her money in return for a percentage of any damages their lawsuit produced.

Winicoff had said in a private conference with attorneys Monday that he did not want that evidence brought before the jury, Cunningham said. Romano, in asking for the mistrial, insisted the question asked by attorney Jan Michael Morris would prejudice the jury, and Winicoff agreed.

http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusspt/ap12-13-084417.asp?spt=ten&vts=121320051102

somehow involved, with a separate lawyer. And if he is, it sounds like his lawyer intentionally made that comment and mucked up the case.