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.

June 11, 2015 Contract / NFL

Playing Defense: NFL Objects to Fans’ Request for Attorneys’ Fees

On Friday, June 5, the National Football League objected to a request for more than $83,000 in attorneys’ fees from several fans who originally sued the league over claims from Super Bowl XLV. The fans had originally brought action claiming that they were displaced from seats or had obstructed views at the game in 2011, and they won a $75,850 jury award in March.

According to attorneys helping with bankruptcies in Oklahoma City, the NFL’s main argument against these attorneys’ fees is that the …

June 10, 2015 Contract / Litigation

Trouble Is Brewing: Snoop Dogg Sues Makers Of Colt 45 Malt Beverage Over Contract Dispute

California rap artist Calvin Broadus Jr., better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, filed a lawsuit on Monday against Pabst Brewing Company. The suit alleges that Pabst failed to follow through on a promotional contract in place with Snoop.

The contract at issue was a three-year agreement that was signed in 2011, by which Snoop Dogg would endorse Colt 45, a malt beverage produced by PBC. The lawsuit further alleges that the contract contained a clause whereby Snoop would receive 10 percent of the …

June 10, 2015 Litigation

MJ Continues Winning Ways: Judge Allows Jordan’s Likeness Suit to Continue

On Friday, June 5, an Illinois federal judge ruled that Michael Jordan can continue his right of publicity suit against Jewel Food Stores, Inc. The lawsuit arose out of an ad featured in a special edition of Sports Illustrated following Jordan’s induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The ad featured text that congratulated Jordan on his induction, a pair of basketball shoes portraying the iconic number 23 that Jordan wore during his playing days, and Jewel-Osco’s logo with the slogan “Good Things …

June 9, 2015 NCAA

North Carolina Going South: NCAA Brings Five Charges Against University

On Thursday, June 4, the NCAA brought five charges against the University of North Carolina as a result of approximately 3,000 students having had their grades inflated through faulty courses. The charges were broad, rather than sport-specific, and dealt with the improper benefits that student athletes received through the formerly named African and Afro-American (AFAM) Studies department. The five charges are considered potential Level I violations, and the athletic director stated that it is too early in the process to speculate on potential sanctions the …

June 9, 2015 Concussions / NFL

NFL Concussion Lawsuit: Six Players Drop Out

In a recent development, six former NFL players involved in the NFL concussion lawsuit filed notices of voluntary dismissal without prejudice. The notices were filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The players included former L.A. Rams and Houston Oilers offensive guard Kent Hill, former Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and Pittsburg Steelers tight end Anthony “Tony” Cline Jr.; former Baltimore Colts, New Orleans Saints, and Miami Dolphins linebacker Edward Simonini; former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Randy Ragon; former Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots …

June 8, 2015 MLB

Ending in a Tie: MLB Advanced Media, Orostream Settle Patent Suit Over Mobile App

On Wednesday, June 3, U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap granted a stipulated dismissal of claims between plaintiff Orostream LLC and MLB Advanced Media. Orostream filed suit in February in the Eastern District of Texas, alleging patent infringement in regards to the MLB.TV mobile app. According to Orostream, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office had issued it a patent in October 1998 titled “Computer Network System and Method for Efficient Information Transfer,” and MLB Advanced Media was repeatedly infringing upon it.

In the complaint, Orostream alleged …

June 8, 2015 Copyright / Intellectual Property, Copyright, and Trademark / Litigation

Mixing Up Trouble: Sir Mix-A-Lot Argues Tardiness on DJ’s Copyright Claim

On Tuesday, June 2, Sir Mix-A-Lot spoke out against a lawsuit over copyright authorship brought by his former partner, declaring that the suit comes roughly two decades too late. David Ford, Mix-A-Lot’s former partner and DJ, filed suit in March in Washington federal court, claiming that he had no idea until recently that Mix-A-Lot had filed copyright registration for several songs as the sole author. Mix-A-Lot is moving to dismiss the suit, arguing that it is impossible that twenty years went by before Ford realized …

June 7, 2015 Litigation / NCAA

NCAA Athletes Lose the Big One: Judge Dismisses Publicity Rights Lawsuit Against Broadcasters

On Thursday, June 4, a Tennessee federal judge dismissed a putative class action filed by ten former college athletes who accused major TV broadcasters and others of improperly profiting from the use of their names and likenesses. U.S. District Judge Kevin Sharp granted a motion to dismiss with prejudice, ruling that the plaintiffs failed to prove their case under Tennessee law. He explained that the Tennessee Personal Rights Protection Act only protects a person’s name and likeness when used in advertisements, and that Tennessee common …

June 6, 2015 NHL

Home Ice Advantage: Blackhawks Apparel Prohibited in Parts of Amalie Stadium

Rules directed towards away-team supporters in Tampa Bay Lightning’s Amalie Stadium have sparked controversy and raised First Amendment concerns for some. Fans in Amalie Stadium are prohibited from wearing away-team apparel in exclusive club seating areas. Those areas account for approximately 1,400 seats out of the arena’s 20,500 total. Also, in order to purchase tickets, fans must use a credit card associated with a Florida zip code.

Bill Wicket, executive vice president of communication for the Tampa Bay Lightning, commented on the restrictions: “[d]uring …

June 5, 2015 Concussions / NHL

Concussion Litigation Onslaught: NHL Faces Another Lawsuit From A Former Athlete

On Monday, June 1, former Chicago Blackhawks center and Tampa Bay Lighting coach Steve Ludzik initiated a lawsuit in Federal Court, alleging that the NHL had failed to warn players such as himself of the risk of long-term neurological damage associated with repeated head injury.

Ludzik is represented by Chicago law firm Corboy & Demetrio; the same law firm representing the estates of former NHL player Steve Montador and former NFL player Dave Duerson. He suffers from Parkinson’s disease, which he alleges is a result …