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THIS PAGE | E-MAIL THIS PAGE Sunday, August 30, 1998 Maxwell herpes trial halted by bankruptcy HOUSTON (AP) -- The civil trial of pro basketball player Vernon
Maxwell, who is accused of knowingly giving a woman herpes, is
on hold after the former Houston Rockets star filed for bankruptcy. Maxwell, 33, who played for the Charlotte Hornets last season,
filed bankruptcy papers in Atlanta on Thursday, one day before
the herpes trial was set to begin here. Under federal law, the plaintiff and all others seeking to
collect from Maxwell must wait until the Georgia bankruptcy court
rules on his case, something lawyers said could take years. Sheila Rias, who claims Maxwell infected her during a brief
relationship three years ago, is suing. Her attorney, Philip Bryant,
only would say she is "disappointed his filing has prevented
a trial." The Associated Press was unable to reach Maxwell or his former
lawyer, state Rep. Ron Wilson, who has repeatedly failed to answer
phone messages left at his offices. Earlier last week, Wilson withdrew from the Maxwell case, citing
the former millionaire's inability to pay him. Maxwell's NBA salaries have averaged around $1 million since
1993-94. The hot-and-cold shooting guard known as "Mad Max"
for his behavior both on and off the court made $1.54 million
during the 1994-95 season. But his bankruptcy petition indicates his affinity for fancy
cars has left him strapped. His two biggest creditors are the
lenders who financed his Ferrari and an auto leasing company in
Philadelphia, where he played in 1995-96. Maxwell, who served a 90-day jail sentence earlier this year
for a 1995 marijuana conviction, was unable to pay court fines
of $762 and $750 in May because of his financial problems, Wilson
told state District Judge John Donovan. Donovan ordered Maxwell to pay Ms. Rias $592,000 in February
1996 when Maxwell failed to respond to the suit. Maxwell received
a new trial after claiming he had been served improperly, then
received a third trial after another default judgment.
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© 1995- The E.W.
Scripps Co. and the Abilene Reporter-News.
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