National Basketball Association

Opening statements begin in Wade restaurant case

Published May. 14, 2010 5:53 p.m. ET

foxsports

Opening statements have started in the case pitting Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade against a pair of ex-business partners suing him for $25 million over a failed restaurant deal.

The first witnesses were expected by mid-afternoon Friday. Wade is expected to testify next week.

The lawsuit involves the defunct deal over what was to be a chain of D. Wade's Place sports-themed restaurants. Former business partners Mark Rodberg and Lauren Hollander claim Wade breached a contract by demanding higher compensation than first agreed to, then abandoning the deal in 2008 after two of the short-lived restaurants opened.

Wade wants damages over what he says was wrongful use of his name in the restaurant marketing.