DraftKings and FanDuel Look to Change Internal Regulations Following Scandal

This past week, reports surfaced that an employee of DraftKings, a fantasy sports betting company, used internal information to win $350,000 on the competitor website, FanDuel. According to statements made by both companies on Wednesday October 5, 2015, the billion-dollar startups will now aim to better their internal regulations.

The fantasy sports betting industry has surged over the last year, with DraftKings and FanDuel leading the way. Industry consultant Eilers Research projected that such companies will generate around $3.72 billion in entry fees and $370 …

October 9, 2015 NHL

Former ‘Yotes Owners Continue to be Pestered by the NHL

It seems the National Hockey League still isn’t ready to let one previous franchise owner escape its icy clutches just yet. In a response brief filed Monday, October 7, 2015, former Phoenix Coyotes owners Jerry and Vickie Moyes requested the Arizona District Court to follow in the footsteps of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Baum, who deemed most of the money sought to be recovered by the NHL as unsubstantiated back in January.

The Moyes’ brief was filed in response to a supplemental brief the NHL …

October 8, 2015 Antitrust / MLB

Supreme Court Again Refuses to Hear Case Involving Antitrust Exemption for MLB

The U. S. Supreme Court will not be hearing the latest in a long-line of antitrust suits filed against Major League Baseball, as it was determined Monday that the city of San Jose’s petition for certiorari was denied. The city had filed the petition in response to a dismissal on appeal in the Ninth Circuit earlier in January of this year.

The antitrust lawsuit came about in 2013 after San Jose had unsuccessfully attempted to relocate the Oakland Athletics an hour South along the Californian …

October 8, 2015 NHL

Former Season Ticket Holding Couple Shoots Back Against Dismissive Devils

On Friday, October 2, 2015, a motion in opposition was filed against the New Jersey Devils and its attempt to dismiss pending litigation from earlier this year. The plaintiffs in the suit, married couple and hockey fans Rey and Alex Olsen, argue the claims made by the organization in favor of dismissal are without merit and against precedent. Utilizing a comprehensive and persuasive breach of contract argument, the couple insist that an implied promise existed between the Devils and the Olsens relating to annual renewal …

October 7, 2015 Fantasy Sports

NY Attorney General To Investigate Fantasy Websites

On Tuesday, October 6, 2015, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman began an investigation into DraftKings and FanDuel, the two largest daily fantasy sports websites. The investigation comes as a result of news that the two companies allow their employees, many of which have information not available to the public, to play each other and win large payouts.

Schneiderman sent letters to the CEOs of both companies requesting the employee names and job titles, as well as other information, such as pricing algorithms. The letters …

October 7, 2015 MLB

MLB Moves To Dismiss Safety Net Class Action

On Friday, October 2, 2015, Major League Baseball filed a motion to dismiss a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging that the MLB has failed to protect fans from foul balls and bats.

The lawsuit was filed in July by Oakland Athletics season-ticket holder Gail Payne. Payne is seeking class-action status on behalf of all season ticket holders currently sitting in unprotected areas of MLB ballparks. The suit seeks no monetary compensation, but instead seeks an injunction requiring the MLB to install additional netting.

Major League Baseball …

October 6, 2015 NFL

Former NFL Player Sues Retirement Plan

On Friday, October 2, 2015, ex-NFL player Sean Berton brought suit against the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Player Retirement Plan, Retirement Plan Board, and Retirement Plan Committee under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Berton played in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants from 2002-05. According to the complaint, Berton suffered “approximately a dozen concussions” during his NFL career, and began exhibiting neuro-cognitive problems in October 2005. After leaving the NFL, Berton took a job as a recruiter at Soloman …

October 6, 2015 NCAA

Student-Athlete Time Demands: NCAA D-I Council Takes Another Look

Over the course of the first week of October, the NCAA Division I Council began discussions on the time demands of college athletics. Member schools will discuss the demands among themselves, and they will also consider student-athlete input.

Currently, while in-season, D-I college sport teams are subject to a 20-hour-per-week limit on the athletes’ combined game and practice time. During the off-season, programs are limited to 8 hours per week.

The Council discussions come following the September 30, 2015 U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ …

October 5, 2015 NCAA

NCAA Student-Athletes Continue Fight For Class Certification

On Thursday, October 1, 2015, a group of student athletes continued their fight for class action certification in their lawsuit against the NCAA. The lawsuits, filed on behalf of former and current NCAA athletes, aims to reduce NCAA restrictions on scholarship caps for Bowl Subdivision D-1 football players and for men’s and women’s basketball teams.

In order to obtain class certification, the plaintiffs must demonstrate that all of their cases involve common questions of law or fact and that the “named” plaintiffs will protect the …

October 2, 2015 Advertising / Litigation

MJ and Chicago Grocer in Settlement Talks

On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, an Illinois federal judge told Michael Jordan and Jewel Food Stores, Inc. that both sides will benefit from settling their right of publicity suit.

The lawsuit arose out of an advertisement placed in Sports Illustrated. The advertisement featured text congratulating Jordan on his introduction into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, a pair of basketball shoes portraying Jordan’s Number 23, and Jewel’s own logo. Jordan brought suit against Jewel alleging that Jewel used his likeness without permission in the …

Sports and Entertainment Law Insider™

LATEST INSIGHTS