Supreme Court Allows Bias Ruling to Stand

More than four years after the death of University of Maryland basketball star Len Bias, the Supreme Court Monday let stand a ruling that his family is not entitled to any of the millions of dollars he was on the brink of making before his cocaine-induced death.

The court refused to review a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which held that the basketball player’s agent was not liable for failing to obtain a $1-million life-insurance policy or a lucrative shoe endorsement contract before Bias died.

Bias died June 19, 1986, of cocaine intoxication after an all-night party at his College Park, Md., dormitory. He was celebrating his selection by the Boston Celtics as the second player selected in the NBA draft.

As one of the top NBA picks, Bias was expected to sign a multimillion-dollar contract. Bias’ father, James Bias, contends his son also agreed to an endorsement contract with Reebok shoes June 18, the day before he died, but that his agent failed to sign the contract as had been agreed upon.