Henderson golf course sues ex-NFL star’s charitable foundation

By Steve Green

Published Thursday, June 17, 2010 | 10:38 a.m.

Updated Friday, June 18, 2010 | 8:51 a.m.

The charitable foundation of retired NFL star Jonathan Ogden has been sued by a Nevada golf course claiming it hasn't been paid for a 2006 fundraising tournament. A foundation spokesman is denying the allegation and says the foundation promptly pays all of its bills.

Ogden, an 11-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, lives in Henderson. His foundation, launched in 1996, says it has helped hundreds of young people in disadvantaged communities such as inner-city Baltimore through athletic and education programs.

A golf course and country club in Henderson, the Dragon Ridge Golf Club Inc., filed suit against the foundation June 4 in Clark County District Court in Las Vegas.

The lawsuit says that in June 2006, Dragon Ridge hosted the Fifth Annual Jonathan Ogden Golf Tournament and that despite repeated billings and requests for payment, the foundation has not paid $13,226 owed to Dragon Ridge.

"Approximately 95 participants paid the Ogden Foundation between $300 and $400 per person to golf in the tournament, in order to raise money for the Ogden Foundation," says the lawsuit, filed by Las Vegas attorneys J. Randall Jones and Amanda Kern with the law firm Kemp, Jones & Coulthard LLP.

The lawsuit asserts claims of breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and unjust enrichment. The suit seeks unspecified damages including attorneys fees and costs.

A spokesman for the foundation in Washington, D.C., this week strongly disputed the allegations and said a foundation attorney would be contesting the lawsuit. Dragon Ridge was paid years ago and an accounting mixup or management change at Dragon Ridge may be behind the problem, the spokesman said.

Attorney Eric Dobberstein in Henderson, who represents the foundation, said the issue was brought to the attention of the foundation in January through a collection agency. Dobberstein said he was surprised a lawsuit was filed since the parties had been in discussions and the foundation has records showing the golf course had been paid.

"The foundation was shocked to learn in 2010 of this allegation regarding a 2006 golf tournament. Clearly, we believe there has been some type of error or mistake with respect to the accounting on the part of Dragon Ridge," he said.