Judge Denies Reviving Patriots’ “Deflategate” Suit

The Massachusetts Appeals Court denied to revive the so-called “Deflategate” suit brought by a proposed class of New England Patriots fans, seeking damages and injunctive relief against the National Football League, Commissioner Roger Goodell, and Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft.

The suit stems from the highly controversial accusations against Tom Brady for his alleged role in the scheme to deflate footballs below the PSI range defined by league rules. Commissioner Goodell fined the Patriots $1 million, suspended Brady for four games, and took away …

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Suit Brought by Patriot Fans is Dismissed

On June 10, 2016, a Massachusetts federal court dismissed a suit brought by seven New England Patriot fans, seeking recovery from the Deflategate scandal. The fans were unable to persuade the court that they suffered as a result of the NFL’s handling of Deflategate.

In January of 2015, the New England Patriots, including quarterback Tom Brady, played the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl. Shortly after their victory, the Patriots were accused of tampering with and deflating footballs used during the game. The NFL …

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New England Patriots Enter the Fray in Brady and the NFLPA’s Petition to Rehear Deflategate Case

On May 25, 2016, the New England Patriots officially joined Tom Brady’s battle to have the Second Circuit’s decision to reinstate Brady’s four-game suspension reheard. In a rare and surprising move by a team to go against the league in a player dispute, the Patriots filed a motion for leave to file a brief in support of Brady and the NFLPA. This motion stems from a recent Second Circuit decision to overturn the NFL superstar’s voided suspension and the NFLPA’s petition to have a rehearing

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NFLPA Officially Files Petition for Rehearing in Brady Case

Unhappy with the Second Circuit’s decision in April to uphold the four game suspension handed down to star quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots for his role in the 2014 Deflategate scandal, the National Football League Players’ Association filed a petition for rehearing en banc with the Second Circuit on Monday, May 23, 2016. The filing comes as no surprise to most, and follows the appellate court’s 2-1 decision to overturn a New York federal judge’s ruling that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell overstepped …

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Second Circuit Overturns Brady Ruling, Reinstates QB’s Suspension

On Monday, April 25, 2016, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit voted two-to-one to overturn NFL superstar Tom Brady’s voided 2015 suspension. Brady, who has quarterbacked the league-dominating New England Patriots to four Super Bowl wins this century, was originally handed a four game suspension prior to the start of last year’s football season for his role in the intentional deflation of game balls during the 2014 AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts. Brady and the NFL Players Association appealed the suspension, …

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Deflategate Appeal: NFL Files Opening Brief with Second Circuit

On Monday, October 26, 2015, the National Football League (NFL) filed its opening brief with United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit requesting that the district court’s “Deflategate” ruling be overturned.

The original decision, issued by District Court Judge Richard Berman, reversed the NFL’s 4 game suspension of Patriot’s quarterback Tom Brady. The NFL superstar was alleged to have been involved in a scandal to deflate footballs. In reversing Brady’s suspension, Judge Berman held that the NFL did not provide Brady with …

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Let’s Get This Thing Rollin’: Second Circuit Grants Motion for Expedited Appeal in Deflategate

On Friday September 25, 2015, the NFL filed a motion in the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals requesting that its appeal of the district court’s “Deflategate” decision be expedited. Circuit clerk Catherine O’Hagan Wolfe granted the NFL’s motion on September 29, 2015, therefore reducing the ordinary 10-12-month appellate period.

The district court’s decision, issued by Judge Richard Berman on September 3, 2015, vacated the NFL’s 4-game suspension of quarterback Tom Brady. The NFL superstar was alleged to have been involved in a scandal to …

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Adrian Peterson Suspension: NFL Players Association Invokes Brady Opinion

On September 3, 2015, a New York federal judge overturned New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s four-game suspension, and the decision has now found its way into Adrian Peterson’s lawsuit against the NFL.

In 2014, the NFL suspended Minnesota Viking running back Adrian Peterson after allegations surfaced that he had used a wooden switch on his four-year-old son. The NFL Players Association filed a lawsuit on Peterson’s behalf, and the suspension was eventually overturned by a Minnesota federal judge. The judge — U.S. District Judge …

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The NFL Files its Pre-Argument Statement in Appealing Brady Suspension Ruling

The NFL filed its “pre-argument statement” in the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday September 17, 2015.  The NFL is appealing the September 3, 2015 district court decision of Judge Richard Berman, which vacated the NFL’s 4-game suspension of superstar quarterback Tom Brady.

The pre-argument statement is separate from the filing of a memorandum of law—the statement only describes the legal theories the NFL will plan to make on appeal.  Both the NFL and the NFL Players’ Association (the representative of Tom Brady) …

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Improper Notice and Arbitrary Discipline: Brady Says to Goodell, “Can’t Touch This”

On Thursday September 3, 2015 Judge Richard Berman, federal district court judge in the Southern District of New York and the adjudicator of the Tom Brady Deflategate scandal, issued a decision and order in the litigation between Brady and the National Football League. The lawsuit concerned the legality of the quarterback’s four-game suspension. Ultimately, Judge Berman reversed the NFL’s arbitration decision to suspend Brady; meaning, unless an emergency injunction is approved by the appellate court, Brady will be available to play in the Patriots’ Week …

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