Ali Sues To Reclaim Rights To His Life Story

Jet, Sept 13, 1999

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has sued his former personal lawyer and an associate, claiming he was duped into signing away the fights to his life story.

The lawsuit accuses Richard Hirschfeld, a longtime friend as well as lawyer of Ali, of taking advantage of Ali's weak condition while he underwent treatment for Parkinson's disease.

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Norfolk, VA, and asked the court to declare the 1988 agreement with Hirschfeld and the associate, Ali's former manager and spiritual adviser--Jabir Herbert Muhammad of Chicago--null and void.

Columbia Pictures has announced plans, with Ali's cooperation, to make a movie about Ali, who will be portrayed by actor Will Smith.

According to the lawsuit, Ali was never paid anything for signing the contract that gave 40 percent of his life story to Hirschfeld and Muhammad. The contract created a Virginia company called Muhammad Ali Productions Inc. with Ali, Hirschfeld and Muhammad as directors.

Court papers reveal that the company owns rights to any autobiography or authorized biography of Ali's life-books, TV shows and movies.