Two-time Formula 1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi had his assets seized by the São Paulo Court of Justice due to a debt with an events company
Emerson Fittipaldi had his assets seized because of a debt of R$ 416 thousand with the events company Sax Logística de Shows e Eventos. The decision was signed last Tuesday (14) by Judge Fabiana Marini, head of the 35th Civil Court of the Central Forum of the Court of Justice of São Paulo.
Fittipaldi hired the company in 2012 for the 6 Hours of São Paulo, a stage of the World Endurance Championship promoted by the former driver, but the amount was never paid in full and Sax Logística decided to go to court.
The Court decision was to seize the assets of the first Brazilian Formula 1 champion, which are in a property on Rebouças Avenue in São Paulo, the address of the company that signed the contract. The property contains the 1976 Coopersucar car and the Patrick Racing car with which Emerson won the 1989 Indianapolis 500, as well as trophies won by the former driver.
Fittipaldi's defense claimed that the goods belong to the Fittipaldi Museum, created in 2003 "to compose the cultural and sporting heritage of the country, in order to promote the sporting memory of motor racing. The defense also said that the goods could not be auctioned because of an agreement with the IRS.
The judge kept the decision for the attachment, arguing that the address of the museum is the same as the company's, configuring an "evident patrimonial confusion". Emerson still has the right to appeal the decision. According to G1, the two-time Formula 1 champion is the target of more than 60 lawsuits in the São Paulo Court of Justice, with debts exceeding R$ 27 million.