Daily Mail: Sky Sports to be dragged into Daniel Sturridge legal fight

Story from Daily Mail:

Sky Sports face being dragged into the bizarre court case involving Daniel Sturridge, with a rapper who claims the pundit owes him a £24,500 reward now going after the broadcaster for the cash.

In December 2021, a Los Angeles court ordered Sturridge to pay the five-figure reward to Foster Washington, known as Killa Fame, who said he found his lost dog in 2019.

However, the American alleges he never received the money and, as revealed by Mail Sport last month, an arrest warrant was issued for Sturridge after he failed to attend a September hearing over the long-running dispute.

Following our story, the ex-England striker claimed the letter informing him of the hearing had been sent to an old address, but that he had now instructed lawyers 'to put an end to the speculative claim for good'.

However, Mail Sport understands the matter has still not been resolved a month on, and Washington's lawyer is now seeking to serve Sky Sports - who Sturridge worked for on this week's Monday Night Football - with a 'third-party subpoena'.

That would bring the company into court to answer questions about what money they might owe Sturridge, which they could then be ordered to pay Washington instead.

'I have filed a request with the court to allow me to serve a third-party subpoena,' Thomas Scully, representing Washington, told Mail Sport.

'If Daniel Sturridge is employed by somebody or has a contract with somebody who is going to owe him money or is holding money for him, I have a right to question that person and try to collect that way.

'If they owe money to the main debtor, you could possibly get an order that requires them to pay.'

Scully added: 'Daniel Sturridge is more concerned about his public appearance than about actually resolving this, which is odd because he could have resolved it quite easily.

'He could still resolve it quite easily just by paying the debt, or maybe he has a defence, but he has never brought the defence.

'It is odd that he wants to play it out in the court of public opinion, but he does not want to actually appear in court.'

Sturridge is next due in court on November 30 and Joseph Leventhal, his California-based lawyer, told Mail Sport: 'We look forward to making our case with the judge.'

Sturridge, who last played for Perth Glory in April 2022 but has not officially retired, impressed as a pundit alongside Jamie Carragher during Chelsea's 4-1 win at Tottenham on Monday night.

It was the 34-year-old's first appearance on Sky since the opening Sunday of the season, having been announced as a new signing in the summer.

'I feel so mad that Sky Sports are letting this man start a whole career when he has a warrant in another state for not paying his bills,' Washington told Mail Sport. 'He has lost the case and has been ordered to pay - but he's using his celebrity to avoid paying.'

In his statement on social media last month, Sturridge denied owing Washington money for his dog Lucci being found after it was stolen from an LA property four years ago.

He said: 'The person seeking payment is not due any money. I already paid the young boy who found Lucci.

'I was unaware of the court hearing even taking place. The legal paperwork was sent to the Airbnb property which we had left within 24 hours of the burglary.

'Therefore, I have not had the opportunity to properly represent myself in relation to these false claims.

'With that being said, I have now instructed California lawyers to deal with matters on my behalf.

'I am confident that this will be resolved in my favour quickly and put an end to the speculative claim for good.'