Navratilova Settles Lawsuit With Sponsor

PHILADELPHIA – Martina Navratilova (search) has settled her lawsuit against the sponsor of a credit card directly marketed to gays and lesbians.

The tennis star sued Do Tell Inc., which offers the Rainbow Card (search), in March because she disagreed with the way the card was being marketed.

Do Tell had used Navratilova to market the card since 1995 with the tennis star's permission, the suit said. But in late 2004, Navratilova came at odds with the card's marketing, which she called "inappropriate and repugnant."

On Feb. 8, 2005, Navratilova's attorneys sent a letter to Do Tell, based in Conshohocken, Pa., telling them to stop using the former Wimbledon champ's likeness. She objected to the card's being associated with the cable TV shows "The L Word (search)" and "Queer as Folk (search)," calling the shows "depraved," Do Tell said in court papers.

Terms of the settlement, reported to the judge handling the case last week, were not released. Lawyers for both sides declined comment. Navratilova had been seeking at least $75,000 in damages.

Navratilova is a nine-time Wimbledon champion and winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles. She also owns a record 167 singles titles and 40 Grand Slam doubles titles.

The Rainbow Card helps fund the nonprofit Rainbow Endowment, which promotes the health and social well being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.