Sports and Entertainment Law Insider™
Your All-Access Pass to the Latest Legal Developments Impacting the Business of Sports and Entertainment.
NFL fans know they are going to have to shell out big bucks if they want to go to the Super Bowl. At the time this was written, tickets were priced at a minimum of $2,500 on ticket resale websites. Despite getting a “deal” and only paying $2,000 a piece for his tickets, Josh Finkelman filed a class action lawsuit against the NFL in a New Jersey federal court on January 6th, 2014.
Finkelman alleges the NFL violated New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act by limiting …
Continue ReadingAccording to TMZ, Johnny Depp settled a case brought against him concerning the alleged actions of his bodyguards. Rather than fighting it out in court, Depp and the other defendants reached an agreement with Robin Eckert for an undisclosed amount.
In December 2011, Depp attended an Iggy Pop concert in Los Angeles. Allegedly, Eckert, who was seated next to Depp, was thrown to the ground by Depp’s bodyguards after dancing too close to the movie star. Eckert claimed the bodyguards caused her pants to …
Continue ReadingThis holiday season Disney released its newest animated film “Frozen.” To celebrate, the company presented Phase 4 Films with a gift worse than Aunt Edna’s fruit cake – a trademark infringement lawsuit.
Disney’s “Frozen” was released on November 19, 2013. Less than three weeks earlier, Phase 4 changed the title of one of its from “The Legend of Sarila” to “Frozen Land.” In a December 23 complaint, Disney stated the change was an attempt to ride the coattails of “Frozen’s” success.
Under its original title, …
Continue ReadingA $1.1 million settlement has been reached in a putative class action about the 2012 Winter Classic tickets. Philadelphia Flyers season ticket holders sued Comcast Spectator – the team’s owner – and the NHL after being “forced” to purchase tickets to the Winter Classic separately at a significantly higher price. If approved, the settlement, filed in the U.S. District Court in New Jersey on December 12, 2013 will end the breach of contract action.
On January 2, 2012, the Philadelphia Flyers played in the NHL’s …
Continue ReadingThe Kansas City Chiefs are the latest target of concussion litigation. On December 3, 2013, five former members of the NFL team sued for damages related to head injuries.
The case was filed in a Missouri state court on Tuesday by Alexander Cooper, Joseph Phillips, Kevin Porter, Leonard Griffin, and Christopher Martin. It is the first concussion lawsuit filed against an NFL team, rather than the league.
The players allege similar complaints to those in the suit settled earlier this year. They are suing on …
Continue ReadingTwo more tragic deaths from brain injuries on the football field were reported in recent weeks. On November 11, Hopi (Arizona) High School football player Charles Youvella died from a traumatic brain injury suffered in a game the previous weekend. On November 14, Tipton (Missouri) High School football player Chad Stover died from a traumatic brain injury suffered in a game that took place two weeks earlier. The details of these two events, and any related legal issues, are unclear at this point. …
Continue ReadingJust one day before Lance Armstrong was to be questioned under oath about his doping practices, he settled a lawsuit brought earlier this year and avoided his deposition.
In February 2013, Acceptance Insurance Company sued Armstrong after he admitted to doping during an interview with Oprah Winfrey. The company, like many others, wants the money it paid to Armstrong back. In Acceptance’s case, the company sought the return of $3 million in bonuses it paid for wins from 1999 to 2001.
On November 20, Armstrong …
Continue ReadingIt’s a strange day when the Hells Angels motorcycle club goes to court by choice; but, that’s exactly what it did recently. Rather than using bats, knives, and chains to protect its logo, the Angels filed a trademark infringement lawsuit in federal court. According to TMZ, the club filed suit against 8732 Apparel and Dillard’s, Inc. for infringing on its “Death Head” logo.
8732 Apparel, owned by rapper Young Jeezy, sells a wide range of attire including hats, jackets, shirts, and more. The Angles …
Continue ReadingOne of this summer’s worldwide hits was the Matt Damon-starring science fiction film Elysium. But several months after its release, director Neill Blomkamp’s movie, which tells the story of a poor man who attempts to save his life by making an illegal trip to a satellite planet surrounding a ruined Earth, has found itself at the center of controversy.
Blomkamp was recently sued by little-known screenwriter Steve Wilson Briggs for copyright infringement claiming similarities between Elysium and his screenplay Butterfly Diver. The suit, …
Continue ReadingA New York State court judge declined to view Dr. Mehmet Oz’s audience as patients. As a result, the judge dismissed one viewer’s claim against Dr. Oz for providing negligent medical advice on his TV show.
In March 2013, Frank Dietl filed suit against Dr. Oz claiming he suffered second and third-degree burns on his feet by following the doctor’s advice. After viewing an episode on insomnia, Dietl tried the suggested remedy to cure sleeplessness caused by cold feet.
Dr. Oz recommended putting uncooked rice …
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