Thiem and Bresnik want to reach an out of court agreement
Dominic Thiem and his extra trainer Günter Bresnik are in a legal dispute, both are interested in an out-of-court solution. Bresnik had sued 450,000 euros.
by APA
last edit: Dec 19, 2020, 10:40 am
In the legal dispute between Austria's tennis star Dominic Thiem and his long-time coach Günter Bresnik about the 59-year-old's financial claims, an out-of-court solution could be found, which would save both of them a lengthy process. Bresnik, from whom Thiem had separated in the previous year, initially sued his long-term protégé for around 450,000 euros - the sum relates to Thiem's income in the first quarter of 2020.
At the first meeting in the Palace of Justice on Friday afternoon, Thiem and Bresnik agreed on settlement talks, which will be led by a judge mediator. These should take place in the last week of February - without the lawyers of the two opponents. That was what Bresnik's legal representative Gottfried Korn had suggested: "Lawyers only poison in such a situation. I don't want to be there. Because I know that in five minutes at the latest I will smash the skull of my friend Doctor Ainedter (Thiem's legal representative, dR) . "
Contract from 2014
After the falling out between Thiem and Bresnik, Bresnik is of the opinion that he is still entitled to a share in Thiem's income from sponsorship and equipment contracts that Bresnik had concluded in his role as manager. Originally, there should have been an agreement between Thiem and Bresnik concluded in 2014, which would have guaranteed the latter 30 percent of all contracts he landed until Thiem's career ended. This contract was changed in September 2016 and was limited in time - but without Thiems now manager Herwig Straka being aware of it.
Straka negotiated a solution with Thiem's ex-coach and mentor in May 2019 after the end of the Thiem - Bresnik employment relationship, in which Bresnik was still granted a staggered participation in Thiem's income. Thiem's lawyer Ainedter declared this contract null and void in February 2020 and dissolved it. Reason: Straka and Thiem were "fraudulently deceived" by Bresnik. What Bresnik vehemently denies, which is why he insists on compliance with the agreements made in the previous year and the associated payments and has consequently brought a lawsuit at the Vienna Regional Court for Civil Law Matters (ZRS).
Thiem to negotiate with brother Moritz
"It's about respecting a contract," said Bresnik's lawyer Korn at the court hearing on Friday, to which Dominic Thiem appeared accompanied by his younger brother Moritz. "It's about the money," Ainedter countered. Bresnik earned twelve million euros as Thiems supervisor and manager. After the separation, he was offered an advance payment of two million euros or ten percent for a limited period of time on all sponsorship contracts concluded in the Bresnik era. "He refused. We certainly do not offer more," emphasized Ainedter.
Bresnik's legal representative Korn then stated that the ex-coach and manager was ready to finally terminate the contract "if he gets 20 percent for three years". That is "a very, very generous offer". Incidentally, "Mr. Bresnik's appreciation for Mr. Thiem is unbroken. He is the happiest person when Mr. Thiem wins the US Open," said Korn.
Finally, Bresnik himself took the initiative in the courtroom and ultimately triggered the impetus for concrete settlement discussions by addressing his opponent directly: "For me, Dominic is decisive in the whole matter. Would you like to have a conversation, Dominic?" He then withdrew for a few minutes with attorney Ainedter and, after extensive consultation, decided to get involved in one.