EXCLUSIVE
The half-brother of Australian NBA star Ben Simmons has quietly returned to Australia after failing to pay his legal bills and posted a one-finger salute on social media.
Sean Tribe, who had become a players’ agent in the United States, is being pursued for more than $100,000 in legal fees he racked up when he sued his half-sister Olivia Simmons over her claims that he sexually abused her as a child.
Tribe, 38, returned to Australia last week and shared a series of photos on her Instagram page, including an image of ACT Liberal leader Elizabeth Lee giving her middle finger to reporters.
Tribe also shared a photo of himself posing with former West Coast Eagles AFL player Nic Naitanui at a Perth Wildcats NBL game.
She also posted a photo of beach boxes on Portsea’s Fishermans Beach, known as the millionaires’ playground, where her mother Julie and stepfather Dave Simmons are believed to own a holiday home.
Tribe is one of four children from Julie’s first marriage. She then married Dave Simmons, who was an NBL star in the 1990s, and they had two children: Olivia and Ben.
Tribe took legal action against Olivia, 33, for defamation in 2021 after she accused him of abusing her at her family home in Melbourne.
Tribe won the case, but its high-profile legal team says its bill is still unpaid years later.
The player’s agent Sean Tribe (center) with his half-siblings Ben (left) and Olivia (right)
Sean Tribe (pictured left) rubbed shoulders with former West Coast Eagles AFL player Nic Naitanui during a Perth Wildcats game.
Sean Tribe is the older half-brother of NBA superstar Ben Simmons
The legal firm, which wishes to remain anonymous, has launched new court action against Tribe in Sydney to recover its costs, which are believed to be in excess of $100,000.
Tribe has yet to file a defense in the civil court action, according to court records.
The matter does not yet have a listing date but is expected to be heard at Sydney’s Downing Centre.
If not paid, any judgment could lead to bankruptcy proceedings or repossession proceedings in the United States.
An application for substituted service of process is believed to have been made on Tribe, who now resides in the US, where he lives and works.
The 2021 legal drama unfolded in the Federal Court of Australia before Judge Michael Lee, following a series of tweets posted earlier that year by Ms Simmons.
During the trial, Judge Lee, who also presided over Bruce Lehrmann’s recent defamation case against Network Ten and Lisa WIlkinson, had to make orders preventing the mother-of-two from publishing further details of the “serious allegations” pending determination end of the matter.
Ms. Simmons was represented by pro bono attorney Sheila Kaur Bain, who is now a Federal Circuit Court judge.
Simmons, who played college basketball in the United States for the Arizona State Sun Devils, made false accusations against his half-brother in a series of posts posted to Twitter.
“I’m tired of this facade just because my brother is famous.” “There are real life things happening and I will never be afraid to speak up because money doesn’t control me,” she wrote.
‘I’ve been asking for therapy but my family would rather sweep it under the rug because it could damage my brother’s brand.
“I’ve had PTSD ever since.”
Tribe shared a rare image of ACT Liberal leader Elizabeth Lee giving her middle finger to reporters.
Tribe shared a photo of Portsea’s Fishermans Beach, known as the millionaires’ playground, where his mother Julie and stepfather Dave Simmons are believed to own a holiday home.
Celebrity defamation lawyer Sue Chrysanthou was hired to represent Tribe in court, describing him as a “hard-working Australian” in Philadelphia who was part of his star half-brother’s management team while playing for the 76ers.
Ms Chrysanthou told the court: “The allegations made about Mr Tribe are extremely serious and are made on a medium, Twitter, which is intended to spread information like a virus.”
‘This type of accusation, when posted on Twitter, can spread, like a tentacle, in a matter of hours and cause instant destruction of a person’s reputation.
“And accusations of the kind we’re dealing with, especially today, can’t be erased after they appear on a medium like Twitter.”
Members of the Tribe family, including his mother, Julianne Simmons, brother Liam Simmons, sister Emily Bush and fiancée Diana Ling, testified in court in support of their brother’s hurt feelings and damage to his reputation.
But the family also said they were concerned about Simmons’ mental health, blaming distress in his personal life for the false claims.
Judge Lee ordered Ms Simmons to pay $550,000 in aggravated damages, but the court said Tribe would not pursue her for the money.
A family photo that Olivia Simmons posted in 2020. From left to right, top to bottom: Ben and his father Dave, his mother Julie, Olivia, Emily Bush, and Sean Tribe.
Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons in action
It noted that “although Mr. Tribe is confident in this case to do everything reasonably possible to restore his reputation and uncover the falsity of the serious allegations made against him, he has no intention, at least as currently recommended, to enforce the policy monetary”. sentence against his half-sister.
The Daily Mail does not know whether the sentence against Mrs Simmons was finally carried out.
In a statement released by Tribe after the court proceedings, he said: “I am grateful to the court for concluding this matter so efficiently with the help of my attorneys.”
Tribe is no longer part of Ben Simmons’ management team and now works for high-profile global sports and entertainment management firm, You First.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted members of the Tribe family for comment on the bill.