Nike USA, Inc. v. Berian

Filing 17

Declaration of John Evans in Support of Defendant's Opposition to Nike's Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and Order to Show Cause. Filed by Boris Berian. (Related document(s): Motion for Temporary Restraining Order, Motion for Preliminary Injunction,, 6 .) (Ferranti, William)

William P. Ferranti, OSB #160069
[e-mail]
THE FERRANTI FIRM LLC
1819 SW 5th Ave. #403
Portland, Oregon 97201
Tel: [phone]
Vincent C. Ewing, admitted pro hac vice
[e-mail]
LAW OFFICE OF VINCENT C. EWING
111 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 400, PMB 444
Long Beach, CA 90802
Tel: [phone]

Attorneys fo r Defendant Boris Berian

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF OREGON
PORTLAND DIVISION

NIKE USA, INC. , an Oregon corporation,

Case No. 3: 16-cv- 00743-SB

Plaintiff,

DECLARATION OF JOHN EVANS
V.

In Support Of Defendant Boris Berian's
BORIS BERIAN, an individual California
resident,
Defendant.

PAGE I - DECLARATION OF [NAME]

Opposition To Nike's Motion For A
Temporary Restraining Order And
Order To Show Cause Why Preliminary
Injunction Should Not Issue

I, John Evans, hereby declare as follows:
1.

I am the General Manger of Running Sports Marketing for New Balance Athletics,

Inc. I submit this declaration in support of Defendant Boris Berian's Opposition to Nike's
Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction. The information I am
providing is based on my personal knowledge, and if called and sworn as a witness I could and
would testify competently to this information.
2.

Prior to becoming the General Mauger of Running Sports Marketing for New

Balance in 2013, I consulted for the company. Since 1995, my work for New Balance has
included finding, negotiating with, and signing runners to wear and promote the New Balance
brand.
3.

New Balance made an endorsement offer to Boris Berian on January 20, 2016.

Specifically, I wrote to Mr. Berian's agent Merhawi Keflezighi and listed the basic terms of an
agreement New Balance was willing to enter into with his client. The list did not include a
"reduction" provision - a provision allowing New Balance to reduce Mr. Berian's compensation
in the event he did not meet a specified level of performance - because New Balance had no
intention of including one.
4.

I have read the Affidavit of Ben Cesar wherein he states "[t]o date, Mr. Berian has

never provided Nike with any evidence suggesting that the full contractual terms proposed by
New Balance did not include such industry-standard reductions." My affidavit is intended to
provide that evidence, to the extent it ever was, or is now needed.
5.

Mr. Cesar attests that reduction provi sions are "industry-standard." I do not

believe that to be the case and can affirm that they are not "standard" at New Balance. To the
contrary, endorsement agreements such as the one New Balance plans to enter into with Mr.

PAGE 2 - DECLARATION OF [NAME]

Berian are individually negotiated. New Balance does not, as a standard business practice,
demand reduction provisions in its contracts with runners.
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Executed on June 6, 2016.

vans
1
eral Manger of Running SporLs Marketing
ew Balance Athletics, Inc.

PAGE 3 - DECLARATION OF [NAME]