After having his name dragged through the Mississippi mud for two weeks, Kevin Costner walked out of a New Orleans courtroom with his held high as a federal jury rejected Stephen Baldwin's claim that the Academy Award-winning actor duped him out of $17 million in a business deal involving a oil-cleaning device created on the set of Waterworld.
"My name means more to me than money and that's why we didn't settle," Costner — who has gone by the name Dances with Wolves on at least one occasion — told the Associated Press at the conclusion of a lawsuit he's battled since December 2010.
"My name means more to me than money," said Costner, who has gone by the name Dances with Wolves on at least one occasion.
Eight jurors took less than two hours to decide in Costner's favor, effectively ending all hope of Baldwin reclaiming money he reportedly lost in a business venture brokered with Costner after the devastating BP oil spill. Classy, guys . . . very classy.
"We thought we proved rather convincingly that these two guys [Costner and business partner Patrick Smith] defrauded us," said Baldwin's disappointed attorney James Cobb, who added that he respected the jury's decision, but felt it was ultimately dictated by the reality that one of the two actors is a "bigger celebrity."
"The facts in the case remain true and the opportunity to rectify the unjust activities of those involved is a right and freedom," Baldwin said in a statement.
