In March, the NFL announced the league was accelerating its efforts to move an NFL franchise to the Los Angeles market. Stan Kroenke, the St. Louis Ram’s owner, has a $1.86 billion stadium complex planned in Inglewood, California. It is clear that time is of the essence, and Jay Nixon’s two-man stadium task force of Dave Peacock and Bob Blitz need to get their proposed financing for the $985 million stadium development in downtown St. Louis finalized and before the NFL owners’ committee as soon …
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NFL Concussion Settlement Objectors Seek Broader Amendments
On Monday April 14, 2015, a group of former NFL players raised another round of objections in the class action concussion lawsuit against the NFL. The 28 former players who objected to the initial $765 million settlement, contend that an amended settlement is also deficient.
The initial settlement was preliminarily approved in July 2014. However, upon the suggestion of Judge Anita B. Brody, in February, the NFL amended the settlement, paying particular attention to coverage for the families of CTE sufferers. The amended settlement now …
Continue ReadingFormer NFL Kicker Sues the Buccaneers
Lawrence Tynes, two-time Super Bowl winner and the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker has commenced a lawsuit for $20 million. Tynes has alleged that the dirty and unsafe conditions at the Buccaneers facility led him to contract MRSA. This infection ultimately ended his NFL career.
Tynes signed with the Buccaneers in 2013, but never played a game. He claims that during training camp he and three other players, including Carl Nicks, contracted MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). He further claims that that Buccaneers leadership did not …
Continue ReadingInnocent Until Proven Guilty? Not in the Court of Public Opinion: The Double Standard facing the Dallas Cowboys
Gregory Hardy was born on July 28, 1988. He was the drafted with the 179th pick by the Carolina Panthers. He has 204 tackles, 34.0 sacks, and has forced 7 fumbles in his NFL career. Hardy was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2013. On the field Hardy is dominant. Off the field is a different story.
On May 13, 2014, Hardy was arrested on charges of domestic violence in Mecklenberg County, North Carolina. On July 15, 2014, after a bench trial, Judge Rebecca …
Continue ReadingPittsburgh Steelers Antonio Brown’s Agent Sued for Double-Dealing
Exclusive Supplements Inc. (“ES”), a sports and nutrition supplement company, filed a lawsuit against an NFL agent for inducing Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown to breach the non-compete provision of the endorsement agreement Brown signed with the company in November 2014.
The complaint was filed on March 24, just one day after Glukos, a sports nutrition brand, announced that Brown signed on to be on “Team Glukos.” The court document alleges that Brown’s agent Rosenhaus Sports Representation (“RSR”) induced Brown to enter into the Glukos …
Continue ReadingGA’s High Court OKs Atlanta’s $200M Injection into New Falcons Stadium Construction
The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the lower court’s decision finding that Atlanta’s plan to issue $200 million in bonds to help finance the construction of a new stadium was within the bounds of the state constitution.
The $1.4 billion construction project has been delayed by a lawsuit brought by a group of Atlanta residents who challenged the city’s plan to use hotel-motel tax revenue to finance $200 million of the $1.4 billion. Although other cities often use a hotel-motel tax on their sports facilities, the …
Continue ReadingNFL Owes $75,000 in Super Bowl Seating Suit; Witness Tampering Questions Remain
On Thursday, March 12, the NFL was found guilty of breaching its contracts with seven fans who purchased tickets to Super Bowl XLV back in 2011 and is ordered to pay those fans $75,000.
The seven fans brought this lawsuit against the NFL after they were denied the seats they purchased tickets to at the Super Bowl in Arlington, Texas. Only a few hours before game time, the local fire marshal determined the seats unsafe, and the NFL had to scurry to supply new seats. …
Continue ReadingEx-Steeler Entitled to Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Pennsylvania
In a March 4, 2015 decision, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania awarded former center Chukwunweze Sonume (“Chukky”) Okobi $779 per week in workers’ compensation benefits, along with awarding over $22,000 in attorney’s fees and costs, due to multiple injuries sustained during his time in the National Football League.
Okobi played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2001 to 2007, and then was signed by the Arizona Cardinals in 2007 and Houston Texans in 2008. In 2009, Okobi filed a claim for workers’ compensation benefits against the …
Continue ReadingNFL’s Goodell Says Mea Culpa for Super Bowl Seating Problems
A taped deposition of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was played for jurors at the Super Bowl XLV seating trial. In the recording, Goodell blamed the league, not the Dallas Cowboys, for the fiasco that left over 400 ticket holders without seats at all while other affected ticket holders had seats with restricted views.
When asked whether the Cowboys and owner should be held responsible for the seating problem, Goodell responded,
… Continue Reading“I’m not blaming others. I’m blaming ourselves. I’m accepting responsibility. It is
Super Bowl Seating Trial Underway; Angry Fans Claim NFL Greedy
On Monday, March 2, a jury was selected and the trial finally began in the 2011 Super Bowl seating snafu lawsuit that was brought by eight plaintiffs seeking damages for their unsatisfactory experience at the game
In 2011, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl held in the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington Texas. Some ticket holding patrons, however, missed it. The eight plaintiffs in this lawsuit, in addition to 200 other plaintiffs in a second pending lawsuit, are suing …
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