Former Riverdance star Michael Flatley "summarily dismissed" his former manager, unlawfully breaking their business agreement, the High Court in London was told yesterday on the opening day of a £10 million lawsuit against the dancer.
Mr Flatley is being sued by his former manager, Mr John Reid, who once managed the career of Elton John. Mr Reid claims he was sacked after he helped stage the Lord of the Dance tour in London last year.
He is seeking damages against Mr Flatley for alleged breach of contract, loss of earnings and costs. The case is expected to last five weeks.
As Mr Flatley sat in the brightly-lit surroundings of Court 60, dressed in a smart navy suit and patterned tie, counsel for Mr Reid, Mr Robert Englehart QC, opened the case saying that the contract between his client and Mr Flatley was broken in the early stages of the British leg of the hugely successful Lord of the Dance tour in January 1997, seven months after it was signed.
The contract was not due to expire until this month, but Mr Flatley was claiming that he was "entitled summarily to terminate this contract". Mr Englehart told the court that Mr Flatley would also claim that the contract was procured by "undue influence" and "economic duress" by John Reid Enterprises Ltd.
"Firstly he says that Mr Reid made various statements when he, Mr Flatley, and Mr Reid, first met in St Tropez in September 1995 and he says that he was induced by what Mr Reid said then to enter into the management agreement in June 1996," Mr Englehart continued. "The management contract had only been entered into some seven months previously and was not due under its terms to expire until October 15th, 1998."
He described Mr Flatley as a "well-known dancer of some considerable repute and undoubtedly a considerable talent in the dance field".
Mr Flatley and his former manager are both expected to appear in court to give evidence.