Author: Joseph M. Hanna

Joseph M. Hanna is the founder and chair of Goldberg Segalla’s Sports and Entertainment Practice Group and editor of the Sports and Entertainment Law Insider blog. With a national practice and industry-wide reputation for leadership, Joe is consistently ranked among the top 10 attorneys based in Western New York in Business First’s annual Legal Elite, and in 2015, Joe was the youngest honoree ever to be named Lawyer of the Year in the Bar Association of Erie County’s 130-year history. He was named a Rising Star by Law360 in 2014 and is also a member of the Mediator Panel for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York.
Legislation

Go team! California legislation to require cheerleaders make at least minimum wage

Perhaps the first of its kind in the United States, a bill was sent to the Governor of California earlier this week that would require cheerleaders working for professional sports teams be paid at least minimum wage along with overtime and sick leave. As it stands, the benefits received by a number of cheerleaders actually amount to less than minimum wage.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, the author of the legislation, said the following about the proposed change:

Everyone who works hard to provide a great game-day

… Continue Reading
NFL

X Marks the Spot: Parties Skirmish in Dez Bryant Branding Lawsuit

Dez Bryant, a famed wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys who is also known for crossing his arms in an X after successful plays, is now the focus of a brewing legal battle between Jay-Z’s Roc Nation LLC and Official Brands Inc., a Florida-based sports marketing firm.

The lawsuit was filed in Texas state court by Official Brands, which claims that Roc Nation engaged in tortious interference with regards to theirs and Bryant’s business relationship. More specifically, the lawsuit arises out of Bryant’s agent change …

Continue Reading
NFL

Sacking the Opposition: Redskins Fight Amicus Brief in Trademark Dispute

On Tuesday, June 30, the owner of the Washington Redskins challenged the Native American defendants’ request to introduce a parallel case’s amicus brief that addresses the rights to federal action of trademark holders under the Lanham Act and related First Amendment issues. According to the team’s objection, the brief was untimely, had not been allowed by the court, and offered further argument that did not constitute an authority.

At a hearing on June 23, the defendants argued that the Supreme Court’s decision in Walker v. …

Continue Reading
Litigation

WWE Grapples With Another Potential CTE Lawsuit, Takes The Offensive

In the face of more potential CTE lawsuits, World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. decided to take action. On Monday, June 30, the organization initiated a federal suit in Connecticut in an attempt to obtain a declaration that certain potential CTE lawsuits should be time-barred by statutes of limitations.

WWE seeks the declarations for cases that may likely be brought against it by Dynamite Kid, Black Jack Mulligan, and other former WWE wrestlers. This comes after the organization received warning letters about said potential claims from …

Continue Reading
Defamation / Libel

Manhattan Federal Jury Says Wall Street Wey Must Pay

After deliberating for just four hours, a federal jury in the Southern District of New York awarded former New York Global Group intern Hanna Bouveng $2,000,001 in compensatory damages. This comes after a 10-day trial in which Bouveng accused New York Global Group CEO Benjamin Wey of assault, battery, defamation, sexual harassment, and wrongfully retaliating against her by firing her after she cut off their sexual relationship. Wey denied Bouveng’s claims, instead alleging that she was fired for poor performance.

The jury was shown, …

Continue Reading
NHL

Let the Games Begin: NHL Opens Bidding for Expansion Teams

The NHL announced on Wednesday that starting on July 6th, it will begin accepting applications for expansion NHL teams. The bidding window will be open until August 10th. If the NHL ultimately chooses to expand, it will be the first time that a team has been added to the league in about a decade and a half.

Many speculate that Las Vegas will be the home for the next team. AEG – NHL partner and owner of the Los Angeles …

Continue Reading
Litigation

A New Elimination Game: ESPN Sued Over Fantasy Sports Game

On Thursday, June 25, Suicide Fantasy Sports LLC filed a lawsuit in a California federal court over alleged patent infringement with respect to one of ESPN’s fantasy sports games.  In the complaint, Suicide alleges that ESPN’s “Gridiron Challenge” uses an elimination-based or “suicide” fantasy sports model that infringes on its patent from 2013.

According to the complaint, Suicide reached out to ESPN in 2013 regarding the patent and a potential license.  ESPN declined, explaining that it would be discontinuing the elimination part of its game.  …

Continue Reading
Litigation / NFL / TV

Fans Prepare to Sue NFL and DirecTV Over Blackouts

Another class action suit is around the corner for the NFL and DirecTV. Football fan Thomas Abrahamian filed a proposed complaint in a California federal court on Wednesday for a class action suit alleging that the NFL and DirecTV have violated Sherman anti-trust laws.

NFL coverage is currently set up in the form of  a ‘blackout coverage’ system. What this means is games will be broadcasted on a regional basis. If a person is outside of a particular game’s ‘broadcast region,’ they will be unable …

Continue Reading
Fantasy Sports

Bittersweet Victory: DraftKings Reaches Deal With ESPN Without Any Equity Investment

On Wednesday, June 24, fantasy sports company DraftKings Inc. reached a promotional partnership with ESPN.  DraftKings had reportedly been in talks with Walt Disney Co., ESPN’s parent company, for an equity investment earlier this year.  According to the reports from April, Disney was close to investing $250 million into DraftKings, an amount that would value the company at roughly $900 million.

Although neither company would discuss how much the ESPN marketing deal was actually worth, the agreement makes DraftKings the “official fantasy sports offering” on …

Continue Reading
NCAA

No Escape: Former Basketball Coach Says NCAA Cannot Be Dismissed from Firing Suit

On Monday, June 22, Michele Sharp argued that the NCAA got what it wanted when Kean University fired Sharp and should not be dismissed from her wrongful firing suit.  The former women’s basketball coach filed her original complaint in January 2014 against Kean and a number of its administrators.  When that complaint was dismissed, she filed an amended complaint at the beginning of 2015, adding the NCAA and her previous counsel as defendants.

In the lawsuit, Sharp argues that Kean officials unfairly punished her …

Continue Reading