A car rental company demands over 54,000 euros from Jens Lehmann for rented Audis. But the ex-national goalkeeper denies that a fee was ever agreed. And speaks of a disappointing business relationship.
Munich – New legal trouble for Jens Lehmann: The goalkeeper legend is arguing with a car rental company. She is suing because he is said to have borrowed luxury Audis for more than a year and a half but did not pay for them. The company is demanding a good 54,000 euros plus interest from the 56-year-old before the Munich II Regional Court.
Lehmann has been a regular guest in courtrooms in recent years – because of a chainsaw attack on his neighbor’s garage, because of a drunken drive, because of a fee demand from his ex-lawyer. He did not have to appear at the current proceedings, but joined in via video link – and rejected the demands.
The rental company based near Aachen sees the case like this: It had rented Lehmann three Audis in a row, mostly the SUV model Q8, for a four-figure amount per month. In addition, the footballer with the famous name was supposed to attract corporate customers. The deal: He should be credited with 50 euros per month for every car he rents.
Lehmann says: “There was never any discussion about remuneration.”
Lehmann, however, only brokered contracts for two cars. And it caused grief: two speeding tickets (62 and 67 euros) arrived. His daughter, who shouldn’t have been allowed to use the vehicles, had accidents four times – small but expensive parking bumps with damage worth 13,000 euros.
Lehmann contradicted: “There was never any discussion about remuneration.” He met the company’s managing director through the tennis player Carl-Uwe Steeb. The boss, a big Bayern fan with box tickets, offered him the cars for free.
That’s why he played Greetings August for the company: He got tickets to games and came into the box. It was also agreed that his daughter would be allowed to drive the car. He paid the damages in the amount of the deductible. Lehmann’s conclusion about the business relationship: “A personal disappointment.”
A representative of the company replied that it had also concluded cooperation agreements with other celebrities, such as tennis star Alexander Zverev. And he paid properly. Because a settlement proposal from the court failed, the proceedings will continue – probably for months.
