On Friday, Devin Haney filed a lawsuit against Ryan Garcia before the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York, alleging battery, fraud, unjust enrichment, and breach of contract.
Last April, Devin Haney faced Ryan Garcia in a super lightweight bout at Barclays Center in New York. Garcia won the fight via majority decision (112-112, 114-110, 115-109). However, Garcia’s win turned into a no-contest after Garcia tested positive for Ostarine. He was banned for one year and fined $1.2 million.
Pat English, an attorney for Devin Haney, noted in the lawsuit that Ryan Garcia had signed documents vowing he had not used PEDs. Therefore, Haney seeks punitive damages for the wrongdoings committed by Ryan Garcia.
The lawsuit also noted, “At no time agreed to engage in a bout against an individual who had taken a performance-enhancing drug. His consent was limited to a bout held fairly and under the rules and prohibitions set forth above. Thus, the fighting [touching] by Garcia was nonconsensual. Devin Haney suffered damages in that he suffered physical injury, reputational damage which will amount to millions of dollars, and emotional and mental distress.”
English noted, “By virtue of his actions Ryan Garcia was enriched, at the expense of Devin Haney, to the tune of millions of dollars. Specifically, Ryan Garcia advanced his reputation at the expense of Devin Haney. This translates to a significant loss of future earnings for Devin Haney. Ryan Garcia additionally received millions of dollars to which he was not entitled. It is against equity and good conscience to permit Ryan Garcia to retain what is sought to be recovered in this action.”