Jury Awards Jack Nicklaus $50M in Defamation Suit Against His Former Company

A south Florida jury on Monday awarded golfing legend Jack Nicklaus $50 million in a lawsuit in which he charged that his former company and business partners tried to harm his reputation.

The Palm Beach Circuit Court jury did not find banker Howard Milstein, the chairman of the Nicklaus Companies, and executive Andrew O’Brien personally liable, according to multiple news outlets.

The verdict sheet was not yet available from the Palm Beach County clerk of court, but the 2023 lawsuit complaint indicates that the dispute centered on Nicklaus’ communications with LIV Golf League, a startup rival to the PGA, the Professional Golfers Association. Nicklaus, now 85, contended in the suit that his former partners leaked information in a 2022 New York lawsuit that he had met with LIV backers, had secretly negotiated a $750 million deal, and said that he was not fit to manage his business affairs, Sports Illustrated and the Palm Beach Post reported.

“The defendants engaged in the foregoing conduct for the improper purpose of discrediting Mr. Nicklaus and hindering his ability to compete with the company for business once his post-termination covenants lapsed. They wanted him to work for the company or not at all,” reads the lawsuit complaint.

The Nicklaus Companies officials have not yet indicated if they plan to appeal the jury verdict and award.

The defendants were represented in part by lawyers with the Cole, Scott & Kissane, which is also known as one of Florida’s largest property insurance defense law firms.

Photo: An image of a 5-pound note from Scotland, commemorating Nicklaus’ 1978 victory at The Open golf tournament at St. Andrews. (Adobe Stock)