Odell Beckham Jr. claims he’s the victim of a $1 million extortion plot concocted by a greed-driven man and his lawyer because he’s “an enticing target for shakedown artists,” according to a new lawsuit.
The New York Giants wide receiver shot back against Ishmael Temple — who is suing Beckham for an alleged beatdown at the gridder’s Beverly Hills mansion last year — and his lawyer in his own lawsuit filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Beckham says Temple and his attorney Emmanuel Nsahlai pressured him to cough up a $999,999 settlement — or they’d ruin his reputation by leaking damaging details to the press, the civil extortion complaint says.
“Given the celebrity of the defendant and his wealth, factors which are considered in awarding punitive damages, the $1,000,000 estimate is quite conservative,” Nsahlai wrote in a Jan. 27 letter to Beckham’s lawyer Daniel Davillier, which was included in Temple’s suit.
Andrew Jablon and Stacey Knox, who also represent Beckham, called the request “exorbitant.”
In an e-mail to Davillier a month later, Nsahlai threatened to embarrass Beckham, 25, saying “we are not adverse to personally serving Odell at any events he may attend as a public figure.”
The settlement amount eventually was lowered to $225,000, but the Pro Bowler still refused to pay.
“As one of the most famous athletes in the country, Mr. Beckham presents an enticing target for shakedown artists,” his suit says. “There comes a point when an attorney’s actions cross over from the zealous advocacy of a specious claim to extortion.
“Suffice it to say, Mr. Beckham refused to be extorted.”
In March, Temple sued Beckham for $15 million, claiming he nearly died when he was allegedly pummeled by the star’s personal chef and private security guard. Beckham wasn’t accused of throwing any punches, but Temple alleged he did nothing to stop the attack.
Temple said he needed $18,850 worth of work for dental injuries.
In addition to the alleged assault, Nsahlai recently claimed that there’s “evidence” Beckham offered to illegally pay $1,000 to have sex with one of Temple’s female friends.
Temple and Beckham have been friends for “several years,” according to Nsahlai.
Beckham has denied all of the allegations. Jablon said Temple’s lawsuit “reflects little more than an effort to extort a highly visible athlete by pursuing a windfall settlement of trumped-up claims.”
Davillier declined to comment.
Nsahlai said he hadn’t yet been served with Beckham’s lawsuit but called it an “abuse of process” and “malicious prosecution because there was no civil extortion going on.”
“They know it, and this is a bad faith filing,” Nsahlai said in an email. “We will counter-sue, at the appropriate time per law, for abuse of process and malicious prosecution.”
The lawyer said within the next couple of days, Temple plans to file a formal request with the NFL and the Giants to investigate the matter.