*A therapist hired by Kyrie Irving to lead wellness workshops at a family retreat claims the NBA star is refusing to pay nearly $400,000 for her services.
Social worker Natasha McCartney alleges she provided counseling, guided meditations, and unexpected crisis support after a sudden death at the event, including acting as a liaison with authorities. Despite her efforts, McCartney’s lawsuit accuses Irving of breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and fraud, The Independent reports.
During the five-day gathering in North Dakota last summer, “the program and retreat came to a stop due to the tragic death of a participant during the event,” McCartney’s lawsuit states, adding that she “adapted and provided additional crisis intervention services to ensure the retreat continued smoothly.”
McCartney’s suit says she “acted as the liaison between the family and North Dakota officers to secure the crime scene of the deceased family member.”
McCartney “retained the security services of [her] husband… a retired NYPD Internal Affairs Detective 1st Grade from the Internal Affairs Division, to manage the situation and coordinate intervention with state officers,” the lawsuit goes on.
She also “provided essential information to ensure that guests were not interrogated by [police], promptly facilitated the removal of Kyrie from the scene to avoid media exposure, and assisted the Coroner with preparations for the family viewing and transportation.”
However, the lawsuit alleges that nearly five months later, Irving continues to withhold the nearly $400,000 he owes McCartney.
“After making direct contact with Kyrie Irving and his associates, Mr. Irving put it all off on his supporting cast,” McCartney’s attorney Michael Faragalla told The Independent.
“He even failed to pick up the phone and call Natasha McCartney, so he didn’t make any effort to resolve [the situation] prior to the actual filing [of the lawsuit]. Of course, he had an attorney retained, and of course, his manager and his agent got involved and made several insulting offers, but Kyrie Irving himself never personally tried to make amends,” Faragalla added.
Attorney Alejandro Echeverria, Faragalla’s co-counsel at law firm Spiegel & Utrera P.A., said they do “a detailed exploration with our clients before any potential lawsuit,’ and we wouldn’t have taken this case on unless we felt strongly that our client’s rights had been violated. This is a very simple case of somebody who performed professional services, with a clear understanding of what those services were, and who has really not been treated fairly.”
Per the lawsuit, “Despite multiple demands and amicable attempts to resolve the matter, [Irving has] failed to make full payment towards these invoices.”
McCartney is seeking full payment for her services plus additional costs.
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