Detroit Pistons basketball star Richard Hamilton has filed a federal lawsuit accusing his former business manager Josh Nochimson of stealing about $1 million from him. The lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District court in eastern Pennsylvania and accuses Nochimson of using Hamilton’s credit card to buy airline flights, game tickets and other items.
Hamilton also claims Nochimson used 1.4 million of Hamilton’s American Express frequent flyer miles; failed to pay back $80,000 lent to Nochimson to repair a house; improperly transferred at least $3,000 from Hamilton’s bank accounts into Nochimson’s private account; and wrote about $112,000 in unauthorized checks from Hamilton’s bank account.
Hamilton’s attorney said the suit was filed in Pennsylvania because that is the jurisdiction in which Nochimson was hired by Hamilton. Hamilton and Nochimson met at the University of Connecticut, where Hamilton led the Huskies to a national title in 1999. Nochimson was a student manager for the team.
Hamilton was drafted by the Washington Wizards in 1999 and Nochimson became his personal assistant. In exchange, Hamilton provided Nochimson with a place to live, living expenses and experience that Nochimson hoped to use to begin a career in sports management.
Later, Hamilton made Nochimson his business manager and paid him a salary. As part of that job, Nochimson had access to Hamilton’s bank accounts and American Express card to pay Hamilton’s bills. Nochimson also ran Hamilton’s basketball camps for poor children in Pennsylvania.
Hamilton alleges in the lawsuit that Nochimson began stealing from him in 2003, and ran up $85,000 in fraudulent charges between 2005 and 2008. Nochimson was accused earlier this year of improperly helping guide basketball recruit Nate Miles to Connecticut by giving him lodging, transportation, meals and representation. The school and the NCAA are investigating those allegations.
