Orlando Magic guard Steve Francis is back on the court tonight, but on Friday, he was in a Washington, D.C., court giving a deposition.

Three men filed a civil suit against him after claiming they were injured in an alleged June nightclub incident, and Francis' agent, Jeff Fried, told the Sentinel that Francis is being sued for $10 million.

 Fried said Francis was not involved in the incident and alleged that the civil suit is being lodged only because he's a professional athlete. No criminal charges were filed.

Francis missed practice Friday in Orlando but was expected to fly back home late Friday and play tonight against the Denver Nuggets.

Fried said the case will not be tried until after the season.

"Steve came here today because we have an absolute policy that we're not succumbing to any shake-downs -- and that's what this is," Fried said by cell phone. "If you have $120, you can file a lawsuit against an Allen Iverson or a Steve Francis. . . . This is the other side of fame if you're A.I. or Steve."

Iverson is being sued for $20 million by four men in a civil case stemming from a July 20 bar brawl.