EXCLUSIVE
The half-brother of Australian NBA star Ben Simmons has not paid his lawyer after successfully clearing his name over allegations he sexually assaulted his half-sister.
The player’s agent, Sean Tribe, is being sued for the more than $100,000 in legal fees he racked up when he sued Olivia Simmons over her claims that he sexually abused her as a child.
Tribe, 38, launched “urgent” proceedings against Simmons, 33, for defamation in 2021 after she accused him of abusing her at her family home in Melbourne.
But despite winning Tribe’s case, his high-profile legal team says his bill is still unpaid years after the crucial legal victory, despite Tribe’s mega-rich basketball star relative.
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.
The player’s agent Sean Tribe (center) with his half-siblings Ben (left) and Olivia (right)
Sean Tribe is the older half-brother of NBA superstar Ben Simmons
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, the sister of basketball export Ben, whom the judge described as “seemingly famous.”
During the trial, Judge Lee, who also presided over Bruce Lehramnn’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.
Simmons was represented by pro bono attorney Sheila Kaur Bain, who is now a Federal Circuit Court judge.
Simmons, who also played 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.”
Lead 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 Simmon, 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
Ben Simmons is pictured with his sister Olivia.
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 if the sentence against Olivia 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 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 Tribe legal bill.
