PGA Tour and Ryder Cup star Tony Finau is to set appear in a US court next year to contest a lawsuit filed against him by a Utah businessman who claims he is owed over $16 million in unpaid expenses, loans and percentages of winnings earned to date by the 34-year-old player.
More than four years after he first filed a lawsuit against Finau, Salt Lake City-based businessman Molonai Hola was originally scheduled to go to trial in Provo, Utah this month, but has now been postponed to next spring at the earliest due to the complexities of the case.
Finau, who has made more than $50 million in prize money and endorsements since turning professional in 2014, is being sued by Hola who has claimed that between 2006-2009 he invested over $600,000 in Finau’s career in return for a promise of 20 percent of his future earnings. Hola said that Finau “agreed and understood” the terms, but the businessman acknowledged in his court papers that there was never any written agreement or contract to that effect.
Lawyers acting on behalf of Hola say that the businessman made mortgage payments on the Finau family’s home in Salt Lake City, paid for medical insurance and medical bills, golf-related travel expenses, including tournament fees and for caddies and equipment, and for golf apparel.
Hola’s lawsuit also claims when the Finau family’s home was condemned, he paid for them to lease a new home, bought new furniture, a car, paid living expenses and related fees for them to live in Florida for a year and receive golf lessons from David Leadbetter.
Finau’s attorneys have argued that the case should be dismissed because the “alleged verbal agreement” happened more than 16 years ago and the statute of limitations on such an agreement would have caused the agreement to expire.
Finau is also claiming that Hola made a gift when he put up money on the golfer’s behalf, while Hola asserts that he was making an investment, not a gift, and now expects a return on his investment.
Hola said: “It is a good story that has happened to Tony, and how he grew up here in our backyard and has been so successful. It is a little sad that it has come to this, but I think it is important that something like this has happened so we can make things right.”
A date for the trial has yet to be agreed on by both sets of lawyers acting on behalf of their clients.