Alex Rodriguez Sued by Former Lawyer David Cornwell for $380,000

Alex Rodriguez has allegedly refused to pay his lawyers—and it has earned him another lawsuit.    

USA Today's Bob Nightengale has the news regarding A-Rod and his former lawyer David Cornwell: 

Rodriguez joined forces with Cornwell—who is perhaps most famous for getting Ryan Braun's failed drug test thrown out—and several other lawyers throughout 2013 when he was battling Major League Baseball over his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal. 

Since then, he was suspended from the game until the end of the 2014 MLB season and ultimately lost an appeal. However, his lawyers did help him get his suspension reduced from 211 games to "only" the entirety of this year's campaign. 

Back in March, Teri Thompson, Nathaniel Vinton and Michael O'Keeffe of the New York Daily News reported that A-Rod had unpaid legal fees amassing up to $3 million. Among those who had allegedly not been paid included Cornwell and lead attorney Joe Tacopina. 

Still, there was some debate as to whether or not the report was true. 

“I have absolutely no fee dispute whatsoever with Alex,” Tacopina told reporters. “He has been entirely fair and responsible with respect to the payment of my fees.”

This lawsuit, however, suggests otherwise, at least when it comes to Cornwell and his associates. And once again, it's not a good look for Rodriguez, whose career and image continue to spiral down the drain. 

David Karp/Associated Press

In the end, even with his current suspension, $380,000 is pretty much pocket change for the embattled star. But more negative headlines aren't exactly going to help Rodriguez escape the controversy that consistently surrounds him. 

There are certainly more details to this story that will surface in the coming days and weeks, but for now, it appears Rodriguez's refusal to take responsibility and pay what he owes has simply gotten him into even more hot water. 

The small crack in the door that leads to him returning to the MLB is pushed closed just a little more with every new legal battle.