More bad news for Lance Armstrong since a Texas judge has refused the cyclist's request to dismiss an insurance company's lawsuit seeking $3 million in bonuses it paid him from 1999 to 2001.
Acceptance Insurance Holdings held a contract that agreed to pay Armstrong a bonus for winning the Tour de France and other races, and since Armstrong finally confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs to win the famous race every year from 1999 to 2005, the company filed a lawsuit against Armstrong seeking to get back the $3 million they paid him.
The athlete's attorneys had asked Travis County judge Darlene Byrne to dismiss the case, arguing the statute of limitations on any fraud or breach of contract claims expired by 2011. The company argued that the clock didn't start until Armstrong admitted doping.
The judge denied Armstrong's request to dismiss, allowing the case to proceed. Acceptance attorney Mark Kincaid said the company will seek to question witnesses including Armstrong, something he's been reluctant to do with several legal cases pending against him.
"We would like to interview Armstrong as soon as possible...Lance Armstrong would be the number one witness," said Kincaid.
Among the other lawsuits Armstrong is facing is the federal case seeking to recover more than $US40 million paid to the cyclist and his team by the US Postal Service when the agency was his team's primary sponsor. Federal prosecutors have said they intend to seek treble damages, which could push penalties up to more than $US100 million.
Another case is the $US12 million lawsuit filed by Dallas-based SCA Promotions. SCA tried to withhold bonuses from Armstrong in 2005 and went to arbitration in an effort to prove he was cheating. Armstrong testified in that case under oath and denied doping, and the case was eventually settled with SCA paying Armstrong more than $US7 million.
Most recently, the athlete has made headlines when he said that he would participate in The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) starting July 20. This will be his first public appearance since he admitted to doping.
Armstrong tried to be low key about his venture back into the public eye, telling USA Today, "I'm well aware my presence is not an easy topic, and so I encourage people if they want to give a high five, great. If you want to shoot me the bird, that's okay, too."
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