Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) Sued for Damage to Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome Refractor Rookie Card

On the eve of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant’s induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, a lawsuit persists in California Superior Court over a Kobe Bryant trading card. The lawsuit, filed in February 2021 by Lakers fan and trading card owner Lance Jackson, alleges that Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), one of the largest trading card authentication and grading companies in the world, damaged or mishandled his rare Topps Kobe Bryant Chrome Refractor Rookie Card.

According to the complaint, Jackson stored the card in a safe, making sure that virtually no one would touch or handle the card. It alleges that, in January 2021, Jackson left the card with a PSA representative who told Jackson that the card would be taken directly to a top grader and was in “good hands.” The lawsuit claims that, when the card was returned later that day, Jackson noticed a defect on the card that was not there prior to giving it to the PSA representative. Jackson’s lawsuit alleges that PSA damaged his Kobe Bryant trading card or that it substituted the well-kept card with an inferior card. Jackson has requested a jury trial and seeks recovery for the value of the card without damage. Among its claims, the lawsuit alleges negligence, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary duty, and violation of California’s business and professions code. PSA is challenging those legal claims in court.

“I entrusted a reputable company known for authenticating and grading trading cards, and they assured me the card was in good hands,” Jackson said. “I brought the case to compensate me for the loss of the card’s value.” Notably, in recent months, a different Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome Refractor Rookie Card sold for nearly $1.8 million dollars.

“Our trial team will move forward with the lawsuit to ensure that PSA takes responsibility for the damage to Mr. Jackson’s card,” said managing partner William A. Munck of Munck Wilson Mandala, Jackson’s lawyers in the case.

The case is Lance Jackson v. Collectors Universe, Inc.; Professional Sports Authenticator a/k/a PSA, Case No.: 30-2021-01185998-CU-PO-CJC, pending in the Superior Court of the State of California, Orange County. Jackson is represented by Gary A. Hecker and Paul M. Gelb of Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP.

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