Surfer Noah Johnson has filed suit against Hurley International, claiming that the Costa Mesa-based surfwear company did not have grounds to cancel its three-year contact with him and continue promoting products using his name and photographs.
“They notified him in December 2000 that they were terminating the deal because they felt he wasn’t getting enough press coverage, but he was on the cover of Surfing magazine this month,” said Johnson’s attorney, Brent Blakely of Carlsmith Ball LLP in Los Angeles.
The lawsuit came as a surprise to Hurley International president Bob Hurley.
“Our company is all about positivity and achievement and all that stuff,” he said. “There were some issues, some performance issues, but I can’t discuss the exact case. I’ve been trying to speak with Noah and can’t get him to call me back. I like Noah. I think he’s a great guy.”
Johnson, 28, has gained notoriety for surfing large waves and won the coveted “In Memory of Eddie Aikau” big-wave event in Hawaii in January 1999. He was also one of five finalists last month in the Swell.com XXL Big Wave Contest.
Surfwear and related apparel companies sponsor professionals as part of their marketing efforts. Hurley International, whose sales are estimated at $50 million annually, has roughly 30 athletes on its team including surfers, snowboarders and skateboarders.
