Entertainment & Sports Law

Lance Armstrong to pay $5M to settle suit claiming he defrauded US Postal Service-sponsored team

Lance Armstrong has agreed to pay $5 million settle a whistleblower suit joined by the federal government that alleged he violated a cycling sponsorship agreement with the U.S. Postal Service by taking performance-enhancing drugs. The U.S. Justice Department announced the settlement Thursday, report the Washington Post, the New York Times…

Apr 20, 2018 9:04 AM CDT

LeBron James issues infringement letter to the University of Alabama over web series

Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James and his multimedia platform, Uninterrupted, sent a notice of copyright infringement to the University of Alabama earlier this month.

Apr 16, 2018 1:47 PM CDT

Law firms and doctors aided fraudulent claimants in $1B concussion settlement, NFL alleges

The NFL claims in a motion filed Friday that a special investigator should be appointed to stop the “widespread fraud” in claims filed under the $1 billion concussion settlement.

Apr 13, 2018 5:03 PM CDT

Frances McDormand has people asking: What is an inclusion rider?

Updated: Best actress winner Frances McDormand had some people scratching their heads Sunday evening when she ended her acceptance speech at the Oscars with two words of advice: “inclusion rider.”

Mar 5, 2018 9:01 AM CST

Coal company accuses judge of ‘flagrant disregard of the law’ for siding with John Oliver

A state court judge has decided to dismiss a defamation suit filed against John Oliver over a satirical segment on the cable television program Last Week Tonight that criticized a coal company and its CEO for their treatment of workers. Judge Jeffrey Cramer of Moundsville, West Virginia, informed lawyers in…

Feb 26, 2018 2:55 PM CST

Law allowing actors to censor publication of their ages violates First Amendment, judge rules

A federal judge in San Francisco has overturned a California law that gives actors the power to remove information about their age from online profiles on the IMDb website. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria ruled that the law is a direct restriction on truthful speech that violates the First Amendment,…

Feb 21, 2018 11:55 AM CST

11th Circuit refuses to reinstate fired Dolphins coach’s defamation suit against Paul Weiss law firm

A federal appeals court has refused to reinstate a lawsuit by a fired Miami Dolphins coach who claimed the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison defamed him in an investigative report of bullying by team members. The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against former…

Jan 19, 2018 8:00 AM CST

Temporary restraining order puts suspension of Cowboys’ Elliott on hold again

A federal court on Tuesday granted a temporary restraining order (PDF) that again blocks a six-game suspension imposed against Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott by the National Football League over domestic violence allegations. The Dallas Morning News, the New York Times, NFL.com and Sports Illustrated have coverage. The temporary…

Oct 18, 2017 3:25 PM CDT

Colin Kaepernick’s grievance alleges collusion; does Trump threat give players free-speech claim?

Updated: Colin Kaepernick’s grievance against the National Football League claims all 32 teams colluded to keep him out of the league in response to pressure by President Donald Trump. Lawyer Mark Geragos filed the grievance under the union’s collective bargaining agreement with the league, report the New York Times, the…

Oct 18, 2017 7:45 AM CDT

5th Circuit vacates injunction blocking suspension of Cowboys’ Elliott

An appeals court on Thursday vacated an injunction blocking Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott’s six-game suspension imposed by the NFL over domestic violence allegations be vacated and remanded the case to district court for dismissal. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled (PDF) that the district court…

Oct 13, 2017 5:00 PM CDT

4 assistant NCAA basketball coaches accused of accepting bribes

Four assistant basketball coaches at NCAA Division I schools have been charged with accepting bribes to steer players to work with clothing companies, sports agents and financial advisers after they turned pro. Facing federal charges are former NBA star Chuck Person of Auburn, Lamont Evans of Oklahoma State, Emanuel Richardson…

Sep 26, 2017 11:36 AM CDT

Lawsuit against NFL says convicted Patriots star Hernandez had severe CTE

The estate of Aaron Hernandez filed a lawsuit on Thursday that claims the late New England Patriots football star had severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy when he committed suicide following a 2015 conviction for one murder and an April acquittal in two others. The suit claims the National Football League and…

Sep 22, 2017 9:59 AM CDT

NFL seeks to reinstate suspension for Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott

The NFL is seeking to reinstate a six-game suspension imposed by an arbitrator against Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. The NFL is asking U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant of Texas for a stay pending appeal of the preliminary injunction he issued Friday that allows Elliott to play. The request…

Sep 11, 2017 1:58 PM CDT

Minor league players lose federal antitrust appeal over low wages

A federal appeals court has tossed a suit filed by professional minor league baseball players who claimed the league illegally depressed wages in violation of antitrust law. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled (PDF) on Monday that minor league baseball is exempt from antitrust laws, report…

Jun 27, 2017 4:00 PM CDT

Supreme Court to decide whether Congress can bar states from authorizing sports gambling

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to decide the constitutionality of a federal statute banning states from authorizing sports betting. The issue in the two consolidated cases before the court is whether the federal law impermissibly commandeers the regulatory power of the states in violation of the Constitution’s federal…

Jun 27, 2017 9:13 AM CDT