A California Superior Court judge on Monday issued a summary judgement in favor of former world champion boxer Manny Pacquiao, finally resolving all claims against him in a years-old lawsuit in which a Los Angeles-area waiter sought a "finder's fee," for helping put the May 2, 2015, bout between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather together.
Judge Anne Richardson issued the summary judgement in Pacquiao's favor on waiter Gabriel Rueda's last outstanding claim against him, finding Pacquiao cannot be held liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Rueda's case against CBS, Showtime, Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach and attorney Keith Davidson is expected to go to trial in November.
Rueda, who is also an actor somtimes known as Gabriel Salvador, sued Pacquiao, Roach, Davidson, CBS and Showtime on Feb. 24, 2016. He sought two percent of the gross proceeds from the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout, which is the largest-selling pay-per-view bout in history and grossed over $430 million. Rueda also sought two percent of the revenue for up to two rematches, which did not occur.
"We are very pleased with the court’s ruling," Pacquiao attorney Gary Gorham said in a statement issued to KevinIole.com. "It is the correct result."
Richardson noted in her ruling that "Pacquiao and Rueda have never met, spoken, or directly communicated. The parties also do not dispute that Pacquiao did not personally threaten, harass, assault or personally participate in the conduct that caused Rueda severe emotional distress."
Rueda alleged that Davidson and Roach acted on Pacquiao's behalf and in the claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress, said he was bullied, harassed and threatened and subjected to racial epithets, among many other things.
But the judge noted that there is no evidence Pacquiao hired anyone to harass Rueda. He had employed Davidson in the past but did not employ him at the time of the incident Rueda alleges. In a motion, Rueda alleged that Davidson threatened him and that the harassment began thereafter.
Richardson found that Davidson was not working on behalf of Pacquiao and that the boxer was unaware of the conduct alleged.
"Rueda does not offer even circumstantial facts that Pacquiao knew of the specific conduct or aided in its commission," the judge wrote.
Rueda was seeking more than $50 million from Pacquiao. All claims against Pacquiao have now been resolved.