Todd Oldham receives Positive Ruling in case against Gap/Old Navy
09 Jun '11
2 min read
Todd Oldham Studio announced that The U.S. Second Court Of Appeals ruled unanimously in favor of Designer Todd Oldham on two counts in the case against Gap Inc./ Old Navy. One, for wrongful termination and for failing to negotiate in good faith in an agreement to develop an exclusive collection of Todd Oldham branded apparel and accessories.
On September 21, 2007 Gap Inc. announced that “Todd Oldham will team with Old Navy to serve as the brands Design Creative Director” and that “Todd will also develop and launch a line of merchandise under the Todd Oldham name to be sold exclusively at Old Navy stores.”
The case was first filed in Feb. 2009 after Oldham's claim that Old Navy did not live up to contractual obligations to move forward with the Todd Oldham branded collection. Old Navy fired Oldham two days after the filing and wrongful termination charges were then added to the case. The case was initially dismissed on Jan. 21, 2011 and an appeal was filed shortly after.
The new ruling was determined by three judges, Chief Judge Dennis Jacobs, Circuit Judge Peter W. Hall and District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin who after reviewing the extensive documents concluded that “Old Navy engaged in “sham negotiations,” falsely representing that it fully intended to enter into a license agreement.” And that “Old Navy's “true purpose” was to avoid negotiating at all.”
After reviewing the wrongful termination documents the courts ruling concluded, “none of the vague, unspecified issues mentioned in the Termination Letter had been previously raised.” And that “Mr. Oldham had been repeatedly and widely praised by Gap and Old Navy executives and staff throughout his Old Navy tenure.”
Todd Oldham, president of Todd Oldham Studio commented, “We are very grateful for the courts ruling and so appreciative of the judges diligence in reviewing all of the documents. I am also pleased that the ruling allows the facts to finally come forward with the depositions of the key players in the case like Old Navy president Tom Wyatt and Gap inc. CEO Glenn Murphy.”
20240830145952.gif)
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "UBM China (Shanghai)")
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
