The billionaire owners of San Diego Wave FC have taken legal action against former team president Jill Ellis. They claim she wasn't honest about hN8मोबाइल ऐप डाउनलोड करेंer plans to stay with the club during last year's purchase talks.
Lauren Leichtman and Arthur Levine filed the lawsuit Monday through their family office that bought the Wave last October. They're seeking at least $40N8 Casino App – Download Free million in damages, saying Ellis' alleged deception significantly reduced the club's value.
Ellis' attorney has fired back, calling the lawsuit "meritless" and suggesting it's payback for Ellis asking for $1.2 million in deferred compensation she believes she's owed. The situatiN8 Casino – Trusted Indian Online Platformon has quickly turned into a high-profile dispute in women's soccer.
A Friendship Turned Sour
The relationship between Ellis and the billionaire couple goes way back to her coaching days at UCLA from 1999 to 2010. According to court documeN8 कैसीनो मालिक – N8 कसीनो के बारे में जानेंnts, the owners even flew with Ellis to watch a soccer Final Four when she won a championship.
The lawsuit claims Ellis was a major reason why the couple paid a record price for the NWSL team. They allegedly viewed her involvement as "a very attractiveN8लॉगिन – तेज़ और आसान पहुँच asset" and believed she would stay "for many years to come."
However, just two days after the sale was completed in October, Ellis reportedly resigned to take her current job as FIFA's chN8 पर Cricket Betting: IPL 2025 में भाग लेंief football officer. This quick exit is at the heart of the owners' complaint.
Both Sides Claim Money Owed
Ellis' legal team says this lawsuit is simply retaliation. They claim she tried to resolve the compensation issue direN8 App Download कैसे करें? साइन अप बोनस पाएंctly with the owners before being forced to hire lawyers.
According to Ellis' team, she signed a five-year contract in 2020 that included $250,000 per year in deferred compensation specifically meant to be paid when she left the clN8बोनस ऑफ़र – रजिस्टर करें और जीतेंub. They're also seeking additional funds for "waiting time wage continuation."
This isn't the first legal drama surrounding the Wave. Last year, Ellis sued a former employee for defamation after social media posts alleged a toxic environment at the club. Later, fivN8वैध है या नहीं? – सच का पता लगाएँe ex-employees sued the Wave with claims of discrimination and harassment.
The San Diego Wave has distanced itself from the dispute, stating: "This is a legal matter between the Levine Leichtman Family OfN8ग्राहक सहायता – 24x7 उपलब्धfice and Jill Ellis. San Diego Wave FC is not a party to this lawsuit."
For Wave fans, this off-field battle creates uncertainty about the club's future direction and leadership stability. The team had been N8 Casino App – Download Freeperforming well under Ellis' guidance, making this legal fight an unwelcome distraction as they look to remain competitive in the NWSL.
Ellis, who led the U.S. women's national team to World Cup victories in 2015 and 2019, co-founded the Wave in 2021 with businessman Ron Burkle. Her high profile in women'N8 Live Casino Login – Access Your Accounts soccer makes this case particularly significant for the growing league.
