NFL Concussion Settlement Objectors Seek Broader Amendments

On Monday April 14, 2015, a group of former NFL players raised another round of objections in the class action concussion lawsuit against the NFL. The 28 former players who objected to the initial $765 million settlement, contend that an amended settlement is also deficient.

The initial settlement was preliminarily approved in July 2014. However, upon the suggestion of Judge Anita B. Brody, in February, the NFL amended the settlement, paying particular attention to coverage for the families of CTE sufferers. The amended settlement now …

April 15, 2015 Copyright

Lionsgate and Joss Whedon Face $10M Copyright Suit Over “The Cabin in the Woods”

Peter Gallagher, not the actor but an author of a 2006 novel, has filed a lawsuit against Lionsgate and Joss Whedon who produced and co-wrote the 2012 horror movie “The Cabin in the Woods” with Drew Goddard who was also named in the suit.

Gallagher in the complaint alleges that Whedon and Goddard stole the idea, plots, characters, and more from his novel “The Little White Trip: A Night in the Pines” without his consent in. According to Gallagher, he registered the book with the …

April 14, 2015 Antitrust

Antitrust Battle Between MMA Fighters and UFC Continues

On April 10, Mixed Martial Arts (“MMA”) fighters Cung Le, Jon Fitch, and Nate Quarry filed their opposition to UFC’s motion to dismiss the putative class action and to transfer the venue.

In the court documents, the fighters argued that UFC’s bid to transfer venue was improper because the suit is alleging antitrust violations, not breach of contract. In response to the UFC’s argument that the plaintiffs did not specify “how the agreements unreasonably restrain competition,” the plaintiffs simply said, “The UFC is …

April 13, 2015 Contract

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 …

April 10, 2015 Litigation

Workers’ Compensation Benefits Granted to Exotic Club Dancer Shot at Club in South Carolina

In a March 18, 2015 decision, the Supreme Court of South Carolina granted workers’ compensation benefits to an exotic dancer who was shot and injured during the course of her work activities.

Although the legal conclusion was contested, the facts were not in dispute. Claimant LeAndra Lewis worked as an exotic dancer at multiple establishments in North and South Carolina. On July 23, 2008, claimant was working at the Boom Boom Room Studio 54 when she was struck by a bullet fired during an altercation, …

April 9, 2015 Intellectual Property, Copyright, and Trademark / Trademark

Former San Diego Chargers Wants $18M For “Lights Out” Trademark Infringement

On April 6, Shawne Merriman, former San Diego Chargers linebacker, filed a motion for summary judgment to ask the judge to resolve the trademark infringement dispute that began last year against Nike over “Lights Out” mark.

Claiming the ownership of the mark, Merriman said, “After I was given the nickname ‘Lights Out’ ® in high school, I decided to create a brand while I was at the University of Maryland. From 2002-2005 I sold approximately 2000 t-shirts printed with the Lights Out …

April 8, 2015 NFL

Former NFL Kicker Sues the Buccaneers

Lawrence Tynes, two-time Super Bowl winner and the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker has commenced a lawsuit for $20 million. Tynes has alleged that the dirty and unsafe conditions at the Buccaneers facility led him to contract MRSA. This infection ultimately ended his NFL career.

Tynes signed with the Buccaneers in 2013, but never played a game. He claims that during training camp he and three other players, including Carl Nicks, contracted MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). He further claims that that Buccaneers leadership did not …

MGM “Knocks Out” Raging Bull Lawsuit with Settlement

Last year, we reported that the U.S. Supreme Court revived a longstanding copyright infringement lawsuit over the 1980 hit movie “Raging Bull.” The suit was initially brought in 2009 when Paula Petrella, the daughter of Frank Petrella, alleged that MGM and 20^th Century Fox (“MGM”) infringed on her father’s copyrights in a number of works written about the life of boxer Jake LaMotta.

Paula first became aware of her right to sue in the early 90’s based on a Supreme Court case related to …

April 6, 2015 Contract

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 …

April 6, 2015 NFL

Innocent Until Proven Guilty? Not in the Court of Public Opinion: The Double Standard facing the Dallas Cowboys

Gregory Hardy was born on July 28, 1988. He was the drafted with the 179^th pick by the Carolina Panthers. He has 204 tackles, 34.0 sacks, and has forced 7 fumbles in his NFL career. Hardy was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2013. On the field Hardy is dominant. Off the field is a different story.

On May 13, 2014, Hardy was arrested on charges of domestic violence in Mecklenberg County, North Carolina. On July 15, 2014, after a bench trial, Judge Rebecca …

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