Bottom of the 9th: San Jose Appeals Ruling in Favor of MLB

In 2013, San Jose, California filed a lawsuit against Major League Baseball, claiming violations of anti-trust laws. Specifically, MLB has refused to allow the Oakland Athletics baseball team to move to San Jose, as it asserts that the city falls within the geographic territory of the San Francisco Giants. On Wednesday, MLB asked the United States Supreme Court to uphold decades-old precedent exempting baseball from antitrust laws.

The Ninth Circuit based its ruling on a ruling by the Supreme Court itself from 1922 which exempted …

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The Competitive Edge: Feds Set Sights on Cardinals for Astros Data Breach

Major League Baseball announced on Tuesday that the federal government is investigating the St. Louis Cardinals after the Houston Astros’ internal database – which stores information about player personnel and evaluations – was hacked. If St. Louis is found to be the perpetrator, it will be the first time in history that a professional sports team has been caught hacking into one of its rival’s networks.

Cardinals chairman and CEO Bill Dewitt Jr. issued a statement on Wednesday stating: “These are serious allegations that don’t …

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Baseball And Broken Bats: Woman Injured At Fenway Park May Have Limited Recovery Rights

A spectator named Tonya Carpenter sustained serious injuries after being struck by a broken piece of a baseball bat at Friday night’s game between the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park. Her condition has since been upgraded to fair.

The question however remains: what sort of civil liability will Fenway Park, the Red Sox, and other associated parties face?

Baseball has long been known as America’s pastime, and for spectators, it has always posed some degree of risk. In response to …

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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 …

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Fans Granted Class Certification in NHL and MLB Blackout Litigation

On Thursday, May 14, Judge Scheindlin of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, granted class certification to the consumers suing the MLB, NHL, and broadcasters over blackout dates and high prices for sports packages.

The fans brought their lawsuit back in 2012 against both leagues, individual clubs, Comcast, and DirecTV, claiming that broadcast restrictions violated antitrust law. Those restrictions specifically include territorial blackouts for consumers who purchase large sports packages claiming to carry all games as well as many providers’ …

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Barry Bonds Absolved of Obstruction Conviction

On Wednesday, April 22, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed Barry Bonds’ conviction for obstruction of justice stemming from questionable testimony given in front of a grand jury in 2003 regarding the use and distribution of illegal steroids.

Bonds was summoned to testify before a grand jury in 2003 about his alleged use of performance enhancing drugs.  During the proceedings, Bonds was questioned for nearly three hours.  In 2007, he was charged with making false statements and obstructing justice.  Trial did not begin until …

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Clemens’ Defamation Lawsuit Reaches Settlement

On Wednesday March 18, the defamation-based legal dispute between Roger Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee,  arising from allegations that the long-time MLB pitcher used performance enhancing drugs, has finally settled.

The dispute began over 7 years ago with the publication of the now infamous Mitchell Report.  In the report, pitching trainer, Brian McNamee, accused both Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens of taking performance enhancing drugs banned by the MLB.  Though Pettitte quickly admitted to his use, Clemens denied, and continues to deny, …

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San Jose Takes MLB Antitrust Case to Supreme Court

As anticipated, the San Jose City Council unanimously voted to appeal the antitrust case challenging MLB’s antitrust exemption.

The dispute arose when San Jose’s attempt to relocate the Oakland Athletics to the South Bay was halted by the MLB’s territorial restrictions.  In the lawsuit, the city argued that the territorial rule granting the San Francisco Giants club the right to block the A’s relocation as well as alleged stalling by an MLB relocation committee violated antitrust laws.

After the district court dismissed the suit, the …

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Biogenesis Leader Bosch Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison

On Tuesday, February 17, steroid supplying, faux-doctor Anthony Bosch was sentenced to four years in federal prison for running an illegal medical clinic  and providing illicit substances to MLB players and high school athletes.

Bosch’s phony medical clinic, Biogenesis of America, is responsible for supplying steroids to 14 MLB players including Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun, who were penalized by the league for their use of performance enhancing drugs.  Showing tears and remorse in court, District Judge Darrin Gayles was not lenient, expressing contempt for …

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Yankees Seeking to Avoid Paying Potential $24 Million Bonus to A-Rod

The New York Yankees have made it clear they are still unhappy with Alex Rodriguez despite his return.  A-Rod is preparing to return after a year-long suspension for admitted use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.  At the same time, the Yankees are avoiding contact with the player, hoping to give him as little time playing as possible, and seeking to void his milestones bonus contract.

Recently, the Yankees have given A-Rod the cold shoulder a few times.  They have made it clear that he …

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