SAVANNAH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 13, 2026--
Antthony Mark Hankins, founder of Antthony Design Originals, has filed a federal lawsuit against QVC and HSN following what he asserts was the abrupt and unjustified termination of a retail partnership spanning more than 31 years.
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The case (Case No. 2:26-cv-00912), filed on February 11, 2026, is currently pending in federal court.
For more than three decades, Hankins has built his brand on a foundation of creativity, integrity, and a deep commitment to his audience. The legal action seeks to address matters he believes are essential to protecting his business interests, preserving his legacy, and reinforcing the principles upon which his company was established.
“This decision was not made lightly,” said Hankins. “It is about standing up for the values my brand was built on, protecting my legacy, and ensuring that fairness and accountability matter — especially for creators who have given decades of their lives to their work.”
Hankins emphasized that his commitment to transparency, dignity, and forward momentum remains unchanged as the legal process begins.
“I am deeply grateful for the support, love, and trust of my community,” he added. “My commitment has always been to creativity, integrity, and fairness, and I remain focused on moving forward with purpose.”
Additional details regarding the litigation will be provided through legal counsel as appropriate.
About Antthony Design Originals
Founded by designer Antthony Mark Hankins, Antthony Design Originals is a fashion brand recognized for its distinctive designs, vibrant prints, and accessible approach to style. For more than three decades, the brand has cultivated a loyal customer following through television retail partnerships and direct-to-consumer engagement, delivering collections that emphasize versatility, quality, and confidence. Hankins, an industry veteran, has built his reputation on creativity, integrity, and a deep understanding of his audience. Antthony Design Originals remains committed to innovation while continuing to serve customers with the design perspective and authenticity that have defined the brand since its inception.
Antthony Mark Hankins, founder of Antthony Design Originals.
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — The stakes were low — and the time ripe — for a 54-year old personal injury lawyer and six-time winner of “Minnesota Attorney of the Year” to make Olympic history.
It was the end of the U.S. men’s curling match against Switzerland on Thursday and they were down 8-2.
The team called a substitution. Rich Ruohonen, from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, stepped onto the ice. He hurled the corner guard and watched his stone, biting his lip until it arrived safely at the left flank of the house.
“Yeah, baby! Good shot, Rich!" skip Danny Casper — who was born in 2001, making him 30 years younger than Ruohonen — shouted across the ice.
U.S. fans gave a standing ovation. The lawyer looked wistful. He'd had just become the oldest person to compete for the U.S. at the Winter Olympics.
“I would have rather done it when we were up 8-2 instead of down 8-2," he said, “but I really appreciate the guys giving me a chance.”
Since inviting Ruohonen onto their Gen-Z team as an alternate for Casper, who has Guillain-Barre syndrome, he has become something of an honorary uncle: driving them around, waking them up for morning trainings and buying them snacks.
All while holding that much-discussed full-time job.
“We got Rich. Uh, he’s a lawyer. I don’t know if you guys knew that,” said Casper at a recent press conference, after that fact had already been mentioned four times. Curlers from the US women’s and men’s teams cracked up.
“If you need a lawyer, I think you can call Rich,” Casper said a few minutes later, again to uproarious laughter.
All jokes aside, it's a serious commitment.
“I get up three days a week at 5 in the morning, leave my house by 5:15 in the morning, go drive 30 miles to work out and train," Ruohonen told the AP.
He then heads to his law practice and works all day before returning at 6 p.m. before heading to practice again. He spends Thursday through Sunday away at curling tournaments, toting around a collared shirt and a tie so he can handle hearings on Zoom from the road. He has two kids with his wife Sherri: Nicholas, 21, and Hannah, 24. He has taught them to curl — as his father taught him —- but says Nick prefers hockey.
Though his teammates poke fun and make him the butt of the occasional TikTok video, there's clearly a lot of love on both sides.
It's because of the younger teammates that Ruohonen has finally gotten his Olympic moment after falling just short on several occasions. And it's because of Ruohonen that the team has a mentor and a connection to the older generation of the sport, some of whom they defeated to clinch their Olympic qualification.
“I came from the days when guys were smoking cigarettes out on the ice and all we did was throw rocks and think that we could be better,” Ruohonen said while praising his teammates' work ethic.
“Look at these guys,” he added. “Every one of them’s ripped. And every one of them sweeps their butt off."
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This story has been corrected to show the first name of Ruohonen's son is Nicholas instead of Nicolas.
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
United States' Rich Ruohonen watches the men's curling round robin session against Canada, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
United States' Luc Violette and Daniel Casper look on, during the men's curling round robin session against Switzerland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
US supporters watch during the gold medal mixed doubles curling match between USA and Sweden, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
