Texas Attorney sues Austin F1 promoter

A Texas attorney has sued Tavo Hellmund, the promoter of the upcoming U.S. Grand Prix near Austin, Texas, but the action should have no bearing on the race that is scheduled to join the Formula One calendar in November 2012.

Randolph Ewing claims that Hellmund engaged him to provide legal and business advice, and that Hellmund owes him 5 percent of the promoter's stake in the U.S. GP as payment for more than 150 hours of work.

Ewing filed his suit in the 151st District Court of Harris County in July. He alleges that Hellmund contacted him in February 2010 and that the two parties agreed at a meeting that Ewing "would have to work on a basis under which he would receive a percentage of what [Hellmund] received. The parties then discussed and [Hellmund] agreed [Ewing] would be granted 5 percent of [Hellmund's] interest in the project."

Essentially, Ewing claims that Hellmund "ceased active communications" with him in June 2010 and never compensated him as allegedly agreed.

Hellmund's answer to the lawsuit says that Ewing expressed a personal interest in F1 and offered to provide his counsel for free. Further, Hellmund's attorneys claim Ewing never provided their client with an invoice for services rendered and that Hellmund did not agree to give Ewing a 5 percent stake in the project.

The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in April 2012. AutoWeek