Sports Law Links

Each week The Sports Esquires keep track of the sports law headlines so you don’t have to. This week’s edition covers more Deflategate fallout, UAB’s decision to kill football, MLB’s lawsuits, and the growing momentum behind sports betting and fantasy sports.

NFL

• NFLPA moved to recuse Roger Goodell in Tom Brady’s appeal. Why did the Patriots accept the punishment? Who is Jeffrey Kessler and what effect will he have on Brady’s appeal? Why Brady’s appeal won’t be heard within ten days. Andrew Brandt on what’s next in the Deflategate drama.
• John Sigety delves into the NFL personal conduct policy and why Greg Hardy’s suspension will be reduced. For more resources on NFL player discipline, check out our NFL Player Discipline Library.
• The NFLPA moved to hold the NFL and Goodell in contempt of court in the Adrian Peterson case.
• Former players have filed a new painkiller suit against the league.
• The remainder of Saints owner Tom Benson’s mental competency lawsuit will be closed to the public. However, the suit against Benson over shares of his NFL and NBA franchises in a family trust will not be closed.
• The importance of loss of value insurance after the NFL Draft.
• Darren Sharper’s plea date is set for this week.
• Warren Sapp reaches a plea deal related to his prostitution arrest.

MLB

• Assessing Barry Bonds’s grievance against MLB.
• MLB filed a motion to partially dismiss the minor league wage lawsuits. MLB wins a small victory in the wage suits by getting eight franchises dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction. The order dismissing the teams is here.
• The judge in the MASN broadcasting lawsuit has taken the ruling under advisement. MASN attorneys call Rob Manfred’s statements “prejudicial.”
• Nathaniel Grow reviews the week that was in MLB antitrust litigation.
• A couple has filed a lawsuit against the White Sox for failing to provide adequate security in U.S. Cellular Field’s parking lot.

NCAA

• UAB’s Athletic Assessment Task Force released a study on the affordability of football and other school sports. The full report is here. Andy Schwarz on why the report shows UAB did not need to kill football.
• UNC filed additional arguments and defenses in the academic fraud lawsuit.
• How the NFL concussion settlement affects the NCAA’s proposed concussion settlement.
• Concussions are driving more college athletes to retire early.
• Kevin Blackistone: let’s end the student athlete charade.

Sports Gambling and Fantasy Sports

• Justin Fielkow: The Evolution and Legality of Fantasy Sports.
• The NBA treads lightly but significantly into the world of sports gambling.
• Legalizing sports betting is only the first step: ensuring trust in the integrity of sports is the crucial next step.
• Kansas officially legalizes fantasy sports.
• The irresistible rise of daily fantasy leagues.
• A congressional bill would criminalize Nevada’s mobile sports wagering business.
• More on the distinction between skill and chance concerning daily fantasy sports.

Best of the Rest

• The Golden State Warriors have moved to dismiss the ticket resale lawsuit against them by StubHub.
• Tiger Woods draws FCC complaints for profanity on the course.
• Visa expresses concerns to FIFA over migrant workers in Qatar. Coca-Cola speaks out too.
• Luis Figo drops out of the FIFA presidential race, adding flames to corruption allegations of the governing body. His statement here.
• Referees and umpires in Massachusetts will now undergo criminal background checks to protect student athletes.