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 Rams’ move to L.A., a host of NCAA decisions, match-fixing in tennis, and the latest legal issues facing the DFS industry.

NFL

• The Rams are moving to Los Angeles, and the Charges have a one-year option to move there as well. Andrew Brandt on the long road to L.A. and following the money.  In losing the Rams, St. Louis dodges a major financial bullet.  St. Louis fans are suing the Rams for fraud.  Dan Werly looks at the fans’ case.
• Deflategate a year later: the anatomy of a failed controversy.
• The curious case of Chandler Jones and the NFL’s drug testing policy. Did Foxborough police violate public records law when handling Chandler Jones’s medical emergency?
• New Jersey man who sued NFL over Super Bowl ticket prices lacks standing.
• The Saints assert that Tom Benson’s former personal assistant must go through arbitration with Roger Goodell over unpaid wages claim.

NCAA

• NCAA to let underclassmen return to college after trying out for the NBA.
• High school baseball draftees will now be allowed to have an agent negotiate with MLB teams without losing NCAA eligibility.
• NCAA announces former ULL coach arranged fraudulent test scores and acted unethically. Here’s the full ULL infractions decision.
• Here’s the full report on the Texas athletics academic misconduct allegations.
• Missouri announces impermissible benefits violations.
• An examination of the language governing athlete agents.

Sports Gambling and Fantasy Sports

• Judge rejects prison sentences in international sports betting case.
• The Congressional Research Service released a report on the legal status of the DFS industry.
• American Indian tribes look for unity in the fight over legalizing DFS in California.
• State tax departments grapple with how to regulate the DFS industry.
• Virginia legislators consider framework to legalize DFS.
• Vermont AG says DFS games are illegal in the state. Dustin Gouker explains how Vermont fits in with the other states that have weighed in.

MLB

• Over 150 players filed for arbitration. Justin Sievert explains MLB’s salary arbitration process.
• Jose Reyes to stand trial for domestic abuse charges.
• Judge reduces jail time for MLB informant Anthony Bosch.
• MLB lawyers can’t reach settlement over Garber television suit as trial approaches.
• Minor leaguers weigh risks in minimum wage lawsuit.
• Sports law lessons learned from the career of Red Sox counsel Dave Friedman.

Soccer

• Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid sanctioned for international transfers of minors.
• Guatemala arrests former soccer chief Brayan Jimenez amid FIFA probe.

NBA

• Nate Duncan discusses some of the issues facing the NBA ahead of the next CBA negotiations.
• NBPA files grievance on behalf of Matt Barnes over two-game suspension.

Best of the Rest

• A new BBC/Buzzfeed investigation alleges widespread match-fixing at the top levels of global tennis. More on the investigation.
• The latest on the Benson saga: mediation begins this week in a dispute involving non-voting shares of the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans.
• The Law in Sport board reviews key sports law cases and developments in 2015.
• Jaime Miettinen: what you should know about the online fan-to-fan ticket marketplace.
• Part 1 of Kevin Carpenter’s review of the Rugby World Cup disciplinary process.
• A hockey player is suing the NHL and the Patriots over a spinal injury suffered during the Women’s Winter Classic.