According to a report by The Boot, country superstar Garth Brooks won over the court after it handed out a favorable ruling that the $226,000 he handed over to a former employee was a loan. Lisa Sanderson sought a court ruling to declare that the amount Brooks had given was instead a gift. The jury, composed of three women and four men, had deliberations for an hour before handing out a verdict.
Quoting the jury foreman courtesy of an earlier report by Nashville paper Tennessean, he said, "The money was handed over. The documents call it a loan. That's just the way it works. After 18 years, (Sanderson) should have ensured that there was documentation on that, especially since she has a child."
Sanderson said in her lawsuit that Brooks handed her the money to help her with a custody battle against her ex-husband. She also claimed that her former employer owed her money for her retirement as chief executive officer of Red Strokes. Brooks' former movie and TV production company folded in 2010, The Boot said.
Lawyers who represented Brooks denied Sanderson's claims, and said that the country star went over a repayment plan multiple times with his ex-employee. They also recounted the many ways Brooks had helped Sanderson, which included three separate gifts worth a total of $10,000 and a plane charter worth $19,000 for her exclusive use to visit her father in Memphis after the latter had a heart attack.
John Haubenreich, a lawyer for Brooks, questioned the court, "How did she repay this generosity? By filing a lawsuit against him in California, which included a description of Mr. Brooks of being a ‘paranoid, angry, deceitful and vindictive man.' "
The California lawsuit, of which she is currently seeking around half a million dollars in terms of salary and bonus, including punitive damages from Brooks, is still pending.
Presiding US District Court Judge Aleta Trauger asked Sanderson if she has money to pay off the $226,000 loan. Sanderson said no, The Boot said.
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