Sports Law Links

Each week, the Sports Esquires round up the top stories to keep you informed about the world of sports law. Here’s what happened last week in the world of sports law:

Sports Gambling

• New Jersey’s Monmouth Park racetrack is gambling on sports betting to save itself. However, U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp granted the major professional sports leagues and the NCAA a temporary restraining order last week to prevent Monmouth Park from offering sports betting over the weekend.  Daniel Wallach discusses what’s next, the reasons for granting the TRO, and a potential conflict of interest.
• UFC Executive Vice President Lawrence Epstein echoed NBA Commissioner Adam Silver by publicly supporting sports gambling.

NCAA

• Two current athletes have joined the Kessler lawsuit against the NCAA and the five major conferences seeking a free market for college athlete compensation.
• Sharon Terlep writes about the pressure to modernize the NCAA and its glacial reform process.
• The NCAA argued on Monday that its internal emails and documents produced in former USC football coach Todd McNair’s defamation lawsuit should be sealed from the public to avoid undermining the NCAA’s ability to conduct future investigations.
• Darren Heitner assesses the suspension of University of Georgia running back Todd Gurley. In the wake of Gurley’s requirement to complete 40 hours of community service, John Infante explains the NCAA’s community service penalties. Meanwhile, the University of Georgia has sent cease and desist letters to prohibit the use of Gurley’s name on merchandise.
• Oklahoma State is engaged in a breach of contract lawsuit against former coach Joe Wickline over whether Wickline currently calls plays for the University of Texas. Wickline’s contract with Oklahoma State permitted him to leave without penalty if he left for a position that included play-calling duties.
• Michael McCann and Darren Heitner weigh in on the contentious dispute between the NCAA and a crowdfunding

NFL

• Adrian Peterson has engaged in ongoing talks for a plea agreement which could come as early as Tuesday.
• Michael McCann breaks down the NFL painkiller lawsuit filed by former players, including, Jim McMahon and Richard Dent. The lawsuit alleges the league misled and failed to warn players about the risks and side effects of regularly prescribed medications.
• Massachusetts Judge Susan Garsh denied former Patriots player Aaron Hernandez’s motion to change venue for his 2013 murder trial.
• Panthers player Greg Hardy’s domestic violence trial has been continued until after the season ends. It was previously set for November 17.
• A federal judge allowed Ray Lewis, Santonio Holmes, and other NFL players to continue a $53 million fraud lawsuit against BB&T.

NBA

• S. District Judge Mary Cooper denied former NBA player Tate George’s motion to be released on bail. George was convicted on four mail fraud counts for his participation in a real estate Ponzi scheme.

MLB

• The New York Mets and COO Jeff Wilpon responded to a lawsuit alleging a former senior vice president was “frequently humiliated” by superiors for being pregnant and unmarried.

Hockey

• Former hockey player Lukas Walter filed lawsuits against the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League alleging that the leagues did not pay players the legal minimum wage.

Soccer

• Do female professional soccer players have a right to play on natural grass rather than artificial turf?

Golf

• The PGA of America board voted to remove president Ted Bishop over remarks he made concerning golfer Ian Poulter.

Stadiums

• The Georgia Supreme Court has granted hearings to challengers of the financing plans for the Atlanta Falcons’ and Braves’ new stadiums.

Sports Law Publications

• Marc Edelman and Geoffrey Rapp have released a new sports law book for the American Bar Association:  Careers in Sports Law.