Lance Armstrong Lawsuit Can Go Forward, Judge Rules

A Lance Armstrong lawsuit in Texas will proceed, according to a ruling Monday in a Travis County, Texas court.

Armstrong set off a firestorm in January when he finally confessed to what his enemies had long alleged — that he’d used performance-enhancing drugs to win the famous Tour de France race every year from 1999 to 2005.

Zeenews explained that Acceptance Insurance Holdings held a contract that agreed to pay Armstrong a bonus for winning the Tour de France and other races. Those wins have now been vacated — and the company filed the lawsuit against Lance Armstrong seeking to get back the $3 million they paid him.

According to KETK, Armstrong’s attorneys filed a motion on May 24 asking the judge to throw out the lawsuit.

They argued that the statute of limitations had already expired in 2011. The judge disagreed, and the new Lance Armstrong lawsuit will now go forward.

Acceptance’s attorney Mark Kinkaid said he was pleased with the ruling, noting that they would go after their expenses and lost interest as well as the original $3 million that they paid Armstrong. Kinkaid said:

“[W]e would like to interview Armstrong as soon as possible…Lance Armstrong would be the number one witness.”

Lance Armstrong recently made the news when he said that he would participate in The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) starting July 20 — his first public appearance since he admitted to doping.

Armstrong tried to be low key about his venture back into the public eye, telling USA Today: “I’m well aware my presence is not an easy topic, and so I encourage people if they want to give a high five, great. If you want to shoot me the bird, that’s okay, too.”

It’s only one of several lawsuits Lance Armstrong must face in the wake of his doping confession.

[Lance Armstrong 2009 racing photo by Anita Ritenour via Flickr, Creative Commons]