The following article was written by Spencer Wingate.
A state court complaint has been filed against Hall of Fame goalie Bernie Parent for allegedly walking away from a book deal and stealing the manuscript. Eli Kowalski d/b/a the Sports Challenge Network is claiming he reached an agreement in June 2010 with Parent for exclusive rights over the course of thirty six months to publish, sell, and license an autobiography. Kowalski claims he hired a team of professionals to spend time with Parent and his agent Dean Smith to draft the manuscript. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, of man hours were spent writing the book titled “Risk and Fear: Where Sports Meets Life.” Kowalski alleges Michelle Paiva, the copy editor, conspired with Parent and Smith to write another book titled “Journey through Risk and Fear: Face Fear, Find Your Propose.” Kowalski believes Paiva’s position allowed her to foster a personal and professional relationship with Parent. According to the suit, she had unfiltered access to the original manuscript, which she copied verbatim in some instances to create the other book.
Kowalski, individually, and his company Sports Challenge Network are suing Parent, Smith, his agency Sun Consultants, Paiva, and her company Ballestra Inc. for punitive damages. They are charging the defendants with breach of contract, conspiracy, conversion, unjust enrichment, tortuous interference, and misappropriation of trade secrets. The plaintiffs additionally want the manuscripts returned. Kowalski will be represented in Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas by Daniel McCaffery with Friedman Schuman. Parent has yet to comment on the allegations.