The NFL is attempting to quicken its appeal process of a federal judge’s injunction that reversed Dallas Cowboys’ running back Ezekiel Elliot’s six-game domestic violence suspension. Last week, U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant issued a preliminary injunction to stop Elliot’s suspension, holding that his labor arbitration was fundamentally unfair. The NFL then immediately appealed that ruling to the Fifth Circuit and asked Judge Mazzant for an emergency stay of the preliminary injunction. In this response, the NFL told Judge Mazzant it would quickly immediately go …
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Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliot Six-Game Suspension Upheld
As expected when Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliot and the NFLPA hurriedly filed a temporary restraining order (TRO) on September 5, 2017, arbitrator Harold Henderson has upheld Elliot’s six-game suspension stemming from domestic violence allegations. Elliot and the NFPLA had challenged the arbitration process, alleging it was fundamentally unfair. Henderson’s decision stated “[i]n a case involving violation of a policy, fair and consistent means whether the process and result were in compliance with the terms of that policy. This one is, in every respect.”
The TRO …
Continue ReadingEzekiel Elliot Throws Red Flag Alleging Unfair Arbitration Hearing
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) filed a lawsuit and a temporary injunction in federal court on August 31, 2017 seeking to vacate an arbitration award before it is announced, after a three-day arbitration hearing with arbitrator Harold Henderson. The suit was filed in the face of anticipation that Henderson will rule in favor of the NFL rather than Elliot and uphold Elliot’s six-game suspension.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had imposed the six-game suspension on August 11 after a …
Continue ReadingLead Block: NFL Teams Rally to Pre-empt Jerry Jones and Jim Irsay Deposition Testimony
All 23 National Football League (NFL) teams are rallying behind two of their most notorious owners: Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, and Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts. In a letter written to U.S. District Judge William Alsup, the teams asked that Jones and Irsay be excused from giving deposition testimony in a case involving alleged wide-scale painkiller abuse. Specifically, the teams want a protective order imposed that would “at least [defer]” the two owners from giving deposition testimony.
The teams are …
Continue ReadingClass Dismissed: Fifth Circuit Affirms Denial of Super Bowl Fans’ Class Certification
On September 9, 2016, the Fifth Circuit upheld a district judge’s decision to deny class certification to those fans who were displaced or denied entirely from seats at Super Bowl XLV. Additionally, it affirmed the dismissal of the breach of contract claim against the Dallas Cowboys, agreeing that the Cowboys, whose home stadium served as the location for Super Bowl XLV, were merely third-party vendors of tickets to the event.
In doing so, the Fifth Circuit rejected several proposed classes of fans, including finding …
Continue ReadingSuper Bowl Seating Battle Not Over Yet: Ticket Holders Appeal
Despite their win that awarded $75,000 in March, Super Bowl XLV ticket holders are appealing the trial court decision. In a court document filed on August 21 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the ticket holders are asking the appeals court to overturn the district judge’s pretrial rulings.
The ticket-holder appellants claim that the district court judge erred in denying class certification to those who were completely deprived of their seats and others who were relocated to seats with obstructed views.…
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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 …
Continue ReadingEthics Complaint Filed Against NJ Gov. Christie over Gifts from Cowboys
American Democracy Legal Fund known for its ties to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton filed a complaint against New Jersey Governor Chris Christie with the State Ethics Commission. Closely associated with American Bridge that conducts opposition research on Republicans, the group urged the commission to investigate if Christie, a Republican, violated ethics rules by accepting gifts from Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
The group argued that Christie’s accepting from Cowboys a private jet ride and box tickets to NFL games is a violation of …
Continue ReadingDallas Cowboys Exonerated in Class-Action Seating Suit; NFL Still In
On Wednesday, August 6, Judge Lynn of the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas granted the Dallas Cowboys’ motion to dismiss in another class action lawsuit arising from the 2011 Super Bowl XLV seating debacle. The NFL, however, was not as fortunate.
The Dallas Cowboys hosted the 2011 Super Bowl and undertook the task of creating temporary seating to increase the number of tickets available. The extended number of tickets were sold, but not all of the promised seats were constructed on …
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