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Court demands evidence from Shkreli, Kelly in unpaid wages case

Rohit “CurryshotGG” Nathani (center) coached Team Imagine in the League of Legends North American Challenger Series in 2015. Provided by Riot Games

The New York Supreme Court handed down an order to comply with a motion of discovery on Thursday after a suit was filed seven months ago between Rohit "CurryshotGG" Nathani and his former team, Team Imagine. Nathani says he was owed $25,000 by the team's parent corporation, Maelstrom Gaming, and its two owners, Martin Shkreli and Gerard Kelly.

In the suit, plaintiff Nathani and his lawyer, Roger R. Quiles, allege that Maelstrom was to pay $30,000 to Nathani on a quarterly basis for his services as head coach for League of Legends club Team Imagine throughout the summer of 2015. The suit claims that Shkreli paid Nathani $5,000 from his personal PayPal account and that $25,000 is still outstanding for payment, as reported by the Daily Dot in February.

Documents revealed in discovery could prove or disprove Nathani's claims. The order also schedules a mandatory conference for Oct. 18, when the court will determine whether all discovery obligations have been fulfilled.

Kelly has answered the suit on his and Maelstrom's behalf, but Shkreli has yet to respond to the suit.

Kelly claims that he lacks enough information to substantiate or answer Nathani and his lawyer's claims. As a result, Nathani and his lawyer filed the motion for discovery on May 5, which Kelly has yet to answer.

Shkreli, a former pharmaceutical CEO, no longer operates in esports after parting ways with his previously funded teams, Ex Nihilo and Team Imagine. Kelly, on the other hand, founded and works for NRG Esports, which is also co-owned by Sacramento Kings co-founders Andy Miller and Mark Mastrov, as well as NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, former New York Yankees infielder Alex Rodriguez and former Chicago White Sox shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

Team Imagine competed in the North American Challenger Series in the summer of 2015. Nathani served as its head coach during that time, but the team disbanded and was sold to Apex Gaming after failing to qualify for the League Championship Series in August 2015.