this should be interesting...........i doubt this will ever go to court....but would love to see bonds take the stand (never happen)
Barry Bonds' lawyer said he plans to sue the authors and publisher of a book alleging the outfielder used an array of performance-enhancing drugs, including steroids.
Attorney Michael Rains sent a letter Thursday to an agent for the authors of "Game of Shadows," alerting them of his plans to sue the writers, publisher Gotham Books, the San Francisco Chronicle and Sports Illustrated, which published excerpts earlier this month.
The Chronicle posted the letter on its Web site. A hearing in San Francisco Superior Court was tentatively scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday.
The Chronicle reported that Rains will ask a federal judge to initiate contempt proceedings "for the use of illegally obtained" grand jury transcripts the authors used in writing the book. The paper also reported that Rains said profits should be forfeited because of that.
ESPN's Pedro Gomez reported that the planned lawsuit is not a libel suit. Rains said he will file the suit under California's unfair competition law.
The book by Chronicle reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams was released on Thursday. It claims Bonds used steroids, human growth hormone, insulin and other banned substances for at least five seasons beginning in 1998.
"We fully stand behind the reporting in the book, and we're confident in its accuracy," Fainaru-Wada and Williams said in a statement.
"We certainly stand by our reporters and the reporting they did for us," said Chronicle executive vice president and editor Phil Bronstein. "Nothing that's happened will change that."
Rains will ask a judge Friday to issue a temporary restraining order forfeiting all profits from publication and distribution, according to the letter.
Williams told The Associated Press that the book will stand up to a court challenge.
"I don't know what the legal action they contemplate is," he said. "Gotham can speak to the legal issues but the facts in our book are true and they will stand up to scrutiny."
Gotham officials couldn't be immediately reached for comment, and Rains did not immediately return messages left by The Associated Press.
The San Francisco Giants refused to comment to Gomez.
"The Giants have no response," the team told Gomez on Thursday. "This is Barry Bonds' personal issue."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Barry Bonds' lawyer said he plans to sue the authors and publisher of a book alleging the outfielder used an array of performance-enhancing drugs, including steroids.
Attorney Michael Rains sent a letter Thursday to an agent for the authors of "Game of Shadows," alerting them of his plans to sue the writers, publisher Gotham Books, the San Francisco Chronicle and Sports Illustrated, which published excerpts earlier this month.
The Chronicle posted the letter on its Web site. A hearing in San Francisco Superior Court was tentatively scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday.
The Chronicle reported that Rains will ask a federal judge to initiate contempt proceedings "for the use of illegally obtained" grand jury transcripts the authors used in writing the book. The paper also reported that Rains said profits should be forfeited because of that.
ESPN's Pedro Gomez reported that the planned lawsuit is not a libel suit. Rains said he will file the suit under California's unfair competition law.
The book by Chronicle reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams was released on Thursday. It claims Bonds used steroids, human growth hormone, insulin and other banned substances for at least five seasons beginning in 1998.
"We fully stand behind the reporting in the book, and we're confident in its accuracy," Fainaru-Wada and Williams said in a statement.
"We certainly stand by our reporters and the reporting they did for us," said Chronicle executive vice president and editor Phil Bronstein. "Nothing that's happened will change that."
Rains will ask a judge Friday to issue a temporary restraining order forfeiting all profits from publication and distribution, according to the letter.
Williams told The Associated Press that the book will stand up to a court challenge.
"I don't know what the legal action they contemplate is," he said. "Gotham can speak to the legal issues but the facts in our book are true and they will stand up to scrutiny."
Gotham officials couldn't be immediately reached for comment, and Rains did not immediately return messages left by The Associated Press.
The San Francisco Giants refused to comment to Gomez.
"The Giants have no response," the team told Gomez on Thursday. "This is Barry Bonds' personal issue."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
