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 features the New York DFS hearing, Steve Sarkisian’s ADA lawsuit, the Yasiel Puig investigation, and more FIFA corruption arrests.

Sports Gambling and Fantasy Sports

• Dan Wallach: the New York DFS case may hinge on the meaning of “future contingent” Here is the transcript from the New York DFS preliminary injunction hearing.  The most effective arguments at the hearing.  Peter Hammon analyzed FanDuel’s statistical arguments on skill vs. chance at the hearing.
• Another DFS lawsuit has been filed against professional sports leagues and media. Here’s the complaint.
• New York lawmakers on board with DFS regulation after hearing.
• What the Washington fantasy ruling can teach us.
• A closer look at Florida’s uncertain legal landscape for fantasy sports.
• South Dakota AG declines to bring criminal charges related to DFS, saying the law remains uncertain.
• DFS legal cloud complicates sports league partnerships.
• Ben Shields: Regulate, don’t eliminate, DFS competitions.

NCAA

• USC’s alcohol-related firing of Steve Sarkisian raised ADA concerns. Sarkisian filed suit alleging disability  Michael McCann breaks down Sarkisian’s suit.
• California appeals court slams NCAA in Todd McNair case for disregarding the truth, preserving his defamation claim. The NCAA desperately needs help in its investigations.
• NCAA upholds Jim Boeheim’s nine-game suspension.
• Former coaches and players file Title IX suit against University of Minnesota Duluth.
• Big 12 sends cease and desist to ESPN over Star Wars ad.
• Judge grants class action status in NCAA scholarship cases.

MLB

• MLB investigates Yasiel Puig under new domestic violence policy. Video: Tony Iliakostas discusses the case.  What does it mean under MLB’s new domestic violence policy?  Dan Werly explained MLB’s new domestic violence policy for us in August.
• Kris Bryant and Maikel Franco file service time grievances. John Sigety looked at Bryant’s situation back in April.
• Aroldis Chapman allegedly involved in a domestic violence incident.
• Jonathan Papelbon files grievance against Nationals over unpaid salary.
• Josh Leventhal has an update on the minor league wage lawsuit.

NFL

• The NFLPA filed its response brief with the Second Circuit on behalf of Tom Brady. Here’s the full brief.  Here’s my Twitter analysis of the brief.  Michael McCann’s review of the brief.  Dan Werly: Top ten quotes by Tom Brady’s lawyers antagonizing the NFL and Roger Goodell.
• Plaxico Burress pleads guilty to tax evasion.

Soccer

• Sean Dotson looks at Real Madrid’s uphill battle to stay in the Copa del Rey tournament.
• Swiss authorities arrest two more FIFA vice presidents as corruption probe expands. The Department of Justice’s press release.  The full superseding indictment.  The FBI is now looking into Sepp Blatter’s role.

Best of the Rest

• South African Supreme Court of Appeal overturned Oscar Pistorius’s manslaughter conviction, finding him guilty of murder. Here’s the full opinion.  Jaime Miettinen reviews the case and explains how South African law differs from American law in this case.  Dan Werly discusses what it means for Pistorius and what the possible next steps are.  Pistorius was granted bail after the conviction.
• Steve Montador’s family files lawsuit against NHL.
• Judge calls PGA caddies’ bib logo lawsuit “weak.”