Players’ Unions v. Jock Taxes: An Inside Look at This Waging Legal Battle

Last week, we reported that the NHL Players’ Association, MLB Players’ Association, and NFL Players’ Association sued the city of Pittsburgh for charging a fee on nonresident professional athletes that play within the city. These fees, often referred to as jock taxes, have come under fire over the past few years.

The players’ associations are not challenging the legality of jock taxes in general, about which you can continue reading here. It is well established that states and municipalities have the right to tax …

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NFL, MLB, and NHL Players’ Associations Sue Pittsburgh Over “Unconstitutional” Athletes Fee

The city of Pittsburgh is being challenged for a fee it is charging  nonresident professional athletes who play for Pittsburgh teams.

The NHL Players’ Association, MLB Players’ Association, and NFL Players’ Association, along with baseball player Jeff Francoeur and hockey players Kyle Palmieri and Scott Wilson, have sued the city of Pittsburgh. The city currently imposes a three percent general revenue income fee on professional athletes who reside out of state. Athletes who live in the city, however, pay only a one percent fee. Pittsburgh …

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Justin Timberlake “Can’t Stop the Feeling” on Voting

It is likely Justin Timberlake was simply trying to encourage voting when he posted a voting-booth selfie on his Instagram account, but instead, he caused a little legal chaos.

In late October, Timberlake took to his over 37 million Instagram followers to encourage voting and told them to “choose to have a voice.”

Initially there were questions of whether Timberlake’s selfie violated Tennessee law; however these rumors were struck down by the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office. Although it is illegal to take pictures inside …

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College Players Not Entitled to Broadcasting Compensation

Former college players claiming they should be reimbursed for the broadcasting of games they played in recently endured another defeat. On August 17, 2016, the Sixth Circuit dismissed their claims after the district court had done the same in 2015. The suit was filed against ESPN, CBS, NBC, and other broadcasting networks and several conferences in 2014. Javon Marshall, former Vanderbilt football player, and the proposed class of former student athletes are claiming violations of the Sherman Act, Lanham Act, and Tennessee Law.

The …

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DraftKings Taking a Gamble: Daily Fantasy Sports Operation Bets Gambler’s Wife is Insincere in Requested Damages

On June 3, 2016, Daily fantasy operator DraftKings insisted a Tennessee federal court continue to review a woman’s lawsuit to be reimbursed for her husband’s daily fantasy gambling losses. Previously, Erica Miller filed a motion to have her suit returned to Tennessee state court because her request for damages just under $47,000 — well under the $75,000 threshold required for federal jurisdiction. This lawsuit has developed a bizarre shift in traditional legal practice where the plaintiff is saying they want less money and the defendant …

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Fantasy Sports Considered Illegal Gambling by Two More Attorneys General

Alabama and Tennessee can be added to the list of states with attorneys general who do not believe daily fantasy sports are legal under their state law. On April 5, 2016, the Alabama Attorney General issued a press release reporting he delivered cease and desist letters to FanDuel and Draft Kings. The two leagues have until May 1, 2016 to stop operating in Alabama. According the Attorney General Luther Strange, “paid daily fantasy sports contests are in fact illegal gambling under Alabama law.”

Tennessee Attorney

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