Shoe Company Sues Magic Johnson to Settle Dispute Over Contract

Converse Inc. has filed suit to prevent Magic Johnson of the Lakers from jumping into somebody else’s shoes.

The Massachusetts-based athletic shoe maker said Friday that it filed the suit after being notified that Johnson wanted to terminate his contract because he didn’t think he was making enough money from endorsements.

“We have the highest regard for Magic’s basketball abilities,” said Jeffrey Fromson, the general counsel for Converse, who filed suit in Middlesex County Superior Court seeking an injunction that would force the basketball star to comply with a contract that had seven years remaining.

“But this is a business relationship that started in 1979, and he simply cannot walk away from a contract that has several more years to run,” Fromson said.

Asked about the lawsuit Friday night in Milwaukee, Johnson said: “There’s nothing they can sue me on. I haven’t done anything for them to sue me on. Nothing at all.”

Johnson’s attorney, John C. Argue of Los Angeles, issued a statement saying Converse’s announcement stemmed from “an unfortunate misunderstanding.”

The statement added: “We are pleased to say that representatives of both Converse Inc. and Magic Johnson have agreed to meet in the immediate future (Sunday, according to Johnson) to attempt to resolve these matters.”

Fromson would not reveal Johnson’s salary with Converse, but he said Johnson was asking for “five times his base compensation.” Fromson said he didn’t know which, if any, other shoe company Johnson may be planning to join.