April 23, 2019 Ethics / Fraud / Litigation / Soccer

FIFA Bans Brazilian Soccer Official

On April 15, 2019, Jose Maria Marin, a Brazilian soccer official, was officially banned for life by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). In August 2018, the 86-year-old Marin was sentenced to four years in United States prison for racketeering, money laundering, and wire fraud. According to FIFA, Marin was also guilty of taking bribes linked to media and marketing rights for South American and Brazilian soccer competitions. During his 2017 trial, federal prosecutors said that Marin received $6.6 million in bribes and was …

March 5, 2018 Litigation / NFL

NFL Painkiller Lawsuit Appealed to Ninth Circuit

On February 23, 2018, former NFL players filed an appellate brief with the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in which the players argued that their suit against all 32 NFL teams should not have been dismissed on the grounds that it was time-barred. According to the players, they became aware in early 2014 that NFL teams recklessly administered painkillers, which prematurely ended their professional playing careers and contributed to their diminished post-career prospects. According to their brief, the district court’s decision should be vacated …

June 14, 2016 Litigation / NFL

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 …

May 14, 2014 High School

Overbearing Sports Dad or Racketeering Lacrosse Coaches?

Not a question one frequently has occasion to ask. Earlier this year, the father of a high school lacrosse player in Texas filed a RICO suit in federal court over what he describes as a “pay-for-play” scheme at some of the state’s premier high school lacrosse programs. (It’s literally the father who filed suit as he is a lawyer and one of the plaintiffs, along with his wife and son, and his firm is the plaintiffs’ counsel.) This suit follows a similar state court suit …