THE LAWSUIT
1986- US District Court Manhattan
John Basset looked Donald J. Trump in the eyes. "You're an asshole. Plain and simple. You won't win over the judge or the jury. Even if they find them guilty, they will give us as little as possible. Let me do the talking, and we might have a prayer."
Trump responded: "Who are you, some tennis player who I've never heard of, to tell me that sort of thing?"
William Tatham, Jr. chimed in, before Basset could argue back: "Look, you aren't an asshole, but it's easy to think that way. When people see you, they see a guy they read about in the tabloids. A rich, flashy guy with a trophy wife. John is terminally ill, beloved by his employees, and this is his last chance to realize his dream." He swallowed, and said the one thing that could win Trump over "They envy you. They pity him."
LA Times- July 30, 1986
NFL Gets Blitzed For $1.5 Billion in Antitrust Suit.
Today, a jury found the NFL guilty on eight of nine charges in an antitrust suit. The USFL, a rival league to the NFL, was awarded $1.5 billion in punitive damages. Oddly enough, real estate developer and New Jersey Generals owner Donald Trump only spoke when called as a witness. The case seemed to be led by John Basset, owner of the Tampa Bay Bandits.
John Bassett
Donald J. Trump