Marcus Mariota – Conflict Inevitable in Contract Negotiation

In 2011, the National Football League and the National Football League Players Association reworked their collective bargaining agreement, which brought a major change to the structure of rookie contracts. Gone were the days of massive dollars for players yet to play a down in the NFL. In their place: structured, cookie-cutter deals that have a fixed compensation value based on which slot in the draft the player is selected. Every contract is for the same length of time as well. The goal was to streamline …

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Worse Than A Penalty Kick: NASL Files Suit Against Oklahoma City Ownership

On Friday, June 5, the North American Soccer League filed suit against Tim McLaughlin, the owner of an Oklahoma City professional soccer franchise, seeking more than $2 million in damages.  This claim arose due to McLaughlin improperly withdrawing from the league, thereby breaching a contract that he signed with the NASL in 2013.

In 2013, negotiations began as to the Oklahoma City soccer franchise’s entry into the NASL, which, according to the complaint, included McLaughlin purchasing an interest in the league and signing a payment …

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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 …

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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 …

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Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sued by Official Brands over “ThrowUpTheX” Business

Official Brands, a sports marketing firm that helped to build Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant’s “ThrowUpTheX” brand, filed a lawsuit against Roc Nation, alleging that Roc Nation poached the representation of Bryant from it.

According to the court documents filed, Official Brands alleged Bryant requested the company’s vice president, Ryan Toka, to manage his off-field interests that resulted in the two-year contract Bryant signed with Official Brands in 2014.

Official Brands claimed that under the agreement it provided “unprecedented services” to build “ThrowUpTheX,” including handling …

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Dreyfuss Wants Disney to Open Its Books

On April 9, Richard Dreyfuss filed suit against Walt Disney Pictures claiming that Disney has wrongfully refused him access to its books.  The Oscar winner says he wants to know if Disney owes him money for his work in What About Bob?.

In the seven count complaint, Dreyfuss and Turner & Hooch producer Raymond Wagner’s widow contend, among other things, that Disney has breached their contracts by refusing them the opportunity to audit the books.  The pair claims that Disney will not allow …

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Lawsuit Claims Binghamton Mets Agreed to Sale

Main Street Baseball LLC, a baseball team ownership group from Delaware, filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court for the Northern District of New York against the Binghamton Mets claiming breach of contract to sell the team.

Main Street Baseball alleges that Binghamton Mets President, Mike Urda, has been trying to sell the team for the past four years and has been negotiating a sale with the Delaware group since last August.  The two parties allegedly negotiated potential sale of the team over the winter …

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Sports Litigation Case Law Update February 2015

This month’s sports litigation case law update demonstrates how sports can touch a broad variety of areas of law, from environmental challenges to medical malpractice to contract claims to constitutional due process.  The common thread this month – defendants went undefeated.

 

Sacramento’s Downtown Arena Project Withstands Challenge Under the California Environmental Quality Act 

Saltonstall v. City of Sacramento, 2015 WL 708608 (Cal. Ct. of App., Feb. 18, 2015)

The California state appellate court faced a challenge under the California Environmental Quality Act to …

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McIlroy Settles Management Dispute Out of Court

On Wednesday Morning, February 4, Rory McIlroy and his former management company Horizon Sports Management confirmed a settlement between the two parties, ending the multi-million dollar contract dispute that has dragged out for 2 years.

Back in 2013, Rory McIlroy brought this lawsuit against his former management company claiming the 2011 contract he agreed to was signed under undue influence, informality, and without legal advice, making it invalid and unenforceable.  Horizon responded by claiming the golfer owes millions in unpaid fees and for breaching …

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Lil Wayne Seeks $51 Million from Cash Money Label

On Wednesday, January 28, long-time rapper Lil Wayne filed a lawsuit in NY federal court claiming his label, Cash Money Records, owes him $51 million.

Lil Wayne signed with the label back in 1998 and has been happy with them until 4 years ago. In the past, Lil Wayne has looked to Cash Money head, Bryan “Birdman” Williams, as a type of father, however, the latest album delay seems to have finished off a deteriorating relationship.  Wayne took to Twitter last month, feeling like …

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