Thursday, October 24, 2002
Jordan paid off woman, now claims extortion
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Michael Jordan filed a lawsuit Wednesday against a woman he contends is trying to extort $5 million from him to keep quiet about their relationship more than 10 years ago.
Jordan acknowledged in the lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court that he paid the woman $250,000 “under threat of publicly exposing that relationship.”
Jordan, who plays for the Washington Wizards but spent most of his career with the Chicago Bulls, never agreed to pay any amount above the original $250,000, the lawsuit says. The woman attempted to extort the additional money from Jordan through her attorneys, according to the lawsuit. Her lawyers were not named in the paperwork.
The lawsuit asks the court to stop the woman from further attempts to get money from Jordan.
Jordan, who has been married for more than 12 years, had onlya terse comment about the lawsuit before the Wizards' preseason game in Detroit.
“That's private,” he said surrounded by reporters and cameras. “That's totally private.”
Jordan's lawyer, Frederick Sperling, refused to say whether he asked the police to get involved. He also refused to answer questions about the nature of the relationship.
“The complaint says everything Michael has to say,” Sperling said.
Chicago Police had no knowledge of a criminal complaint filed, while the Cook County State's Attorney's office said no charges were filed.
Estee Portnoy, a spokeswoman for SFX Sports Group, Jordan's management agency, said she couldn't comment on pending litigation.
Juanita Jordan filed for divorce last January, but the Jordans withdrew the divorce case a month later and issued a statement saying they were trying to get back together.
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Jordan paid off woman, now claims extortion 
