Braves settle dispute over Hampton’s contract

By Bill Rankin

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Atlanta Braves and Hartford Life Insurance Co. have settled a lawsuit over claims to $4.82 million that was paid to Mike Hampton while he spent almost four months on the disabled list during the 2008 season.

The Braves filed suit in February in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, contending Hartford should cover the cost of Hampton’s salary for the 117 days he missed during his final season with the club.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed in a recent court filing. Braves public relations director Brad Hainje declined to comment Wednesday.

The Braves acquired Hampton in November 2002. He was injured during the 2005 season and missed the entire 2006 and 2007 seasons after two elbow surgeries.

The team received payments for those two seasons from the Hartford insurance policy that was issued to the Colorado Rockies in 2000 and assigned to the Braves after Hampton joined the team. Although the policy expired in 2005, a provision in the policy said it would remain in effect if Hampton was “totally disabled” before the expiration date.

Hartford contended that Hampton was not totally disabled before or during the 2008 season, according to court records.

Hampton injured his pectoral muscle while warming up on April 3, 2008, for what was to be his first start of the season. He came off the disabled list in late July to make his first start in 3 1/2 years. He finished the season with a 3-4 record and a 4.85 earned run average.

During the offseason, Hampton left the Braves and signed with the Houston Astros. So far this year, he is 7-8 with a 5.14 earned run average.