SPREWELL, Father Settle Lawsuit

WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) _ New York Knicks forward Latrell Sprewell and his father have settled a civil lawsuit involving a 1998 boat accident. <br><br>Sprewell's attorney, Eric Darling, did not disclose

Wednesday, July 11th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) _ New York Knicks forward Latrell Sprewell and his father have settled a civil lawsuit involving a 1998 boat accident.

Sprewell's attorney, Eric Darling, did not disclose the terms of what he called a ``small settlement.''

A two-day trial scheduled to begin Tuesday was canceled.

The Sayles family of Waukesha claimed Sprewell's father, Latoska Fields of River Hills, destroyed their new $13,600 Crestliner Sportfish boat when he collided into it Aug. 22, 1998, on Pewaukee Lake.

The family sued Fields and Sprewell, arguing that even though the former Milwaukee Washington High School star was not present, he was liable for the crash because he negligently entrusted and supervised the watercraft.

James Ward, the attorney for Michael and Lori Sayles, said Sprewell has been cooperative and the case ``was resolved to the satisfaction of both parties.''

Sprewell, a four-time NBA all-star, is best known for a 1997 incident when as a player for the Golden State Warriors, he choked coach P.J. Carlesimo.