Court Dismisses Complaint Brought by Olympic Skier

Skadden secured a dismissal of a complaint brought by Olympic skier Bode Miller and ski manufacturer Bomber, LLC on behalf of Miller's former sponsor, HEAD USA, Inc. (Head). The plaintiffs sought a declaratory judgment that the termination agreement ending Head's sponsorship of Miller, which required Miller to appear on Head skis if he competed in World Cup events this season, was a void noncompete agreement, unenforceable under California law. The plaintiffs also complained of "damage" to Miller due to Head's insistence that he not ski on Bomber skis this season in accordance with the termination agreement. On December 16, Judge David O. Carter of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed the action for lack of personal jurisdiction.