Ric Flair Takes Legal Action Against FAM Networks, Alleges He Was Duped

Ric Flair has filed a $10 million lawsuit against FAM Networks, alleging the influencer talent agency misled him into signing away rights to his name, image, and likeness.

The WWE Hall of Famer, whose legal name is Richard Morgan Fliehr, filed the case in the Manhattan Supreme Court. According to court documents obtained by The Independent, Flair says FAM approached him while he was seeking help with his digital presence.

The complaint alleges that FAM presented him with a complex agreement and that he claimed to have legal representation. He also alleges that he was given roughly 14 minutes to review the document before signing it.

“What FAM did was simple: it waited until he needed help managing the digital legacy of everything he had built, presented him with a document he was not equipped to understand, told him he had lawyers when he did not, gave him fourteen minutes to read it, and walked away with a perpetual license to his identity. The Nature Boy is not finished,” the complaint states. “The case has just begun.”

The lawsuit claims FAM promised to restore Flair’s “hacked, demonetized” Facebook page. The agency allegedly projected six-figure monthly revenue from the account. Flair also claims the agreement promised him 50% of earnings from “collaborative projects” and 10% from “passive content.”

“In those fourteen minutes, without the benefit of legal counsel, without a single attorney reviewing a single word on his behalf, and in direct contradiction of a contractual recital FAM itself drafted declaring that the agreement had been negotiated with counsel, Mr. Fliehr surrendered an irrevocable, perpetual, sublicensable license over his name, image, likeness, voice, accounts, and commercial identity – throughout the universe, without restriction, in all languages, formats, and media now known or later developed.”

The complaint alleges that none of those obligations were fulfilled. Flair further claims FAM took control of his social media accounts without his knowledge. He alleges the agency also changed its categorization, making recovery more difficult. The lawsuit claims FAM generated as much as $20,000 per month from his Facebook page. Flair alleges that he received none of that revenue. He claims he has lost at least $250,000 in revenue to date.

“FAM delivered none of them. It sourced not one speaking engagement. Not one in-person appearance. Not one personal project at the ninety percent royalty tier. It reposted existing content.”

The former world champion is seeking at least $5 million in damages for breach of contract. He is seeking another $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages for alleged fraudulent inducement. The lawsuit also seeks damages for alleged violations of the New York Civil Rights Law and for tortious interference.

Flair is additionally requesting an accounting of revenue generated using his name. He also seeks disgorgement of alleged unjust enrichment, along with attorneys’ fees and court costs.