Star hockey players have killed their chance to win a $25 million lawsuit by going for the gold at the Winter Olympics, a lawyer for the man they’re suing said yesterday.
The NHL players, including Sergei Gonchar of the 2009 Stanley Cup champ Pittsburgh Penguins — now playing for Russia at the Vancouver Games — ignored a judge’s order to give depositions this week and next in California.
At least three other no-show plaintiffs are playing in the Olympics, while a dozen or so others are playing in other countries or are retired.
“I don’t think the judge is going to take kindly to it,” fumed Robyn Crowther, the lawyer representing golf-course developer Ken Jowdy. “They clearly violated the judge’s order, and we’re going to get the case dismissed.”
The Post last year revealed the players were suing Jowdy for allegedly bilking them of the millions they had invested with him to develop two luxury resorts in Mexico. They claimed he used the cash to pay for porn-star parties with baseball buddies, including Roger Clemens.
Ronald Richards, the lawyer for the players, said that on Tuesday, he protected them from the possibility of the case being thrown out by voluntarily withdrawing the California suit with the intention of refiling later.
“Clearly, my clients are not going to jeopardize their careers and their participation in the Olympics to chase Jowdy at this time,” Richards said.
Gonchar told The Post it was “frustrating” that the depositions were scheduled during the Games, “one of the biggest things you can participate in as an athlete.”
“We’re going to continue our efforts to get our money back,” he said.
Crowther said that Jowdy did nothing wrong and that his developments will generate a profit for the players.
A New York federal grand jury is looking into Jowdy’s real-estate transactions.