Former XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck Sues Vince McMahon For Wrongful Termination

Former XFL commissioner Oliver Luck is suing the league’s owner, Vince McMahon, for wrongful termination following the league’s bankruptcy announcement on April 13. Three days before the league’s decision, XFL operations were suspended and employees were laid off, including Luck.

According to the details of Luck’s lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Connecticut last Thursday, his lawyer claims McMahon breached the terms of Luck’s contract when he was fired on April 9. “Mr. Luck wholly disputes and rejects the allegations set forth in the termination letter and contends they are pretextual and devoid of merit,” the lawsuit said. The monetary value Luck is seeking has not yet been reported.

The XFL’s parent company, Alpha Entertainment, released details of the league’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing which included liabilities between $10 million and $50 million with a range of 1,000 to 5,000 creditors. Assets were also listed with values between $10 million and $50 million.

“The XFL quickly captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of people who love football,” the league said in a statement. “Unfortunately, as a new enterprise, we were not insulated from the harsh economic impacts and uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 crisis. This is a heartbreaking time for many, including our passionate fans, players and staff, and we are thankful to them, our television partners, and the many Americans who rallied to the XFL for the love of football.”

McMahon’s lawyer, Jerry McDevitt, received the letter detailing Luck’s suit and said McMahon plans to fight it. “As to the lawsuit he filed, his allegations will be disputed and the position of Mr. McMahon will be set forth in our response to his lawsuit,” McDevitt said.

The XFL’s opening weekend saw its highest ratings with 3.1 million viewers, but the next couple of weeks saw a decline in viewership and the league was only averaging 1.4 million viewers by Week 4.