Retired San Francisco 49er Jerry Rice and wife Jacqueline filed a lawsuit on Nov. 18 over the failed sale of their $13.9 million Atherton home.

The suit, filed in San Mateo County Superior Court, asks the judge to enforce a provision in the contract calling for binding arbitration with the company that backed out of the sale, Bayside Peninsula LLC.

Represented by the law firm of Casas, Riley & Simonian, the Rices want Bayside Peninsula to forfeit the $330,000 deposit put down when it offered to buy the home in May and also to foot the bill for attorney fees associated with the lawsuit, according to court documents.

A hearing on the request for binding arbitration is scheduled for Jan. 11.

The Rices built the 16,000-square-foot home in 2001. The listing description includes a slate roof, home theater, gym and sauna, elevator, at least four fireplaces, and accents of Swarovski crystal and Versace limestone.

The three-story home has seven bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, and, of course, a pool.

An article in Haute Living Magazine in March 2010 quoted Mr. Rice as saying: "Whoever buys this home is going to love it because it's like living in a personal paradise, without having to go too far away."

To see the listing for the home, with photos, click here.

— Barbara Wood

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