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Report: Ex-WWE Star CM Punk Files Countersuit Against Colt Cabana
June 27, 2019
Former WWE Superstar CM Punk filed a lawsuit against independent wrestler and former friend Colt Cabana on June 18 to recoup $600,000 in legal fees, according to PWInsider's Mike Johnson.
Punk and Cabana were co-defendants in a case that saw WWE physician Chris Amann sue them for defamation stemming from Punk's appearance on Cabana's Art of Wrestling podcast in November 2014 (Warning: Some language NSFW).
While Punk and Cabana won the case, Cabana filed a lawsuit against Punk in May claiming he and Punk had a verbal agreement for Punk to pay Cabana's legal fees, which led to Punk's countersuit. Cabana is seeking $200,000 in legal fees and other damages.
In the new suit, Punk (real name Phil Brooks) alleged that Cabana (Scott Colton) "refused to contribute monies" to The Loeb Firm's defense of both parties: "Colton's unjust retention of the benefits of receiving a high-quality, professional legal defense through the Loeb Firm paid for solely by Brooks without any reimbursement of Brooks violated fundamental principles of justice, equality, and good conscience."
Punk stated in the suit that he paid $1.2 million in attorney's fees and other expenses related to Amann's lawsuit.
Cabana alleged in his lawsuit that he and Punk had a verbal contract that would have absolved Cabana from paying any legal fees. However, The Loeb Firm dropped Cabana as a client during preparations for the Amann case.
Before Amann's lawsuit was filed, his lawyers asked Cabana to take the podcast down, which Cabana said he would have done and settled with Amann had Punk not told him he would incur all legal expenses. Punk, however, argues Cabana wanted to keep the podcast online based on "information and belief" he had received.
The podcast was recorded 10 months after Punk left WWE for multiple reasons, with creative differences, financial compensation and his health among them. Punk took aim at the company and many within it during the interview, including Amann.
Since departing WWE, Punk has embarked on a career in MMA. He is 0-2 in the UFC and has not competed in a pro wrestling match since January 2014.
Meanwhile, Cabana continues to wrestle on the independent scene and is also a color commentator for Ring of Honor.
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