Rutgers University and the former Big East collegiate athletic conference have been fighting in Rhode Island federal court over the amount that the school would pay as an ‘exit fee’ – a penalty levied on Rutgers for leaving the for Big East conference early and joining the Big Ten later this year. Now, both sides have agreed on a settlement deal where Rutgers will hand over $11.5 million instead of the original $15 million exit fee. The school has paid a portion of the fee …
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Bengals Cheerleaders File Class Action Against Team Over Compensation
On February 11, 2014, Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader Alexa Brenneman filed a class-action lawsuit against the team, accusing the organization of failing to pay their cheerleaders minimum wage. Brenneman’s suit claims that she was paid only $855 for her work during the 2013 football season, yet worked over 300 hours – meaning that she was making roughly $2.85 per hour. The minimum wage in Ohio is $7.85 per hour.
The Oakland Raiders were recently hit with a similar suit; Raiders’ cheerleaders filed an action in January …
Continue ReadingMinor League Baseball Players Cry Foul – File Lawsuit Seeking Class Action Over Low Wages
A lawsuit filed in federal court seeks to overhaul minor league baseball’s pay scale with three former players arguing low pay, mandatory overtime and lack of collective bargaining rights all violate state and federal wage laws. Minor League Baseball is not a party to the lawsuit. Instead, suit was filed in federal California Northern District Court by former players Aaron Senne, Michael Liberto, and Oliver Odle against Major League Baseball, the Office of the Commissioner, Commissioner Bud Selig and their former teams the Miami Marlins, …
Continue ReadingFormer Portland Timbers Soccer Player Files Concussion Lawsuit Against Team
Former Portland Timbers soccer player Eddie Johnson’s lawsuit is the latest development in the ever-evolving arena of concussion lawsuits by amateur and professional athletes. This is the second concussion suit brought by a player against an MLS club; Bryan Namoff sued DC United in 2012 and that litigation is ongoing.
Johnson filed his Complaint in Oregon state court against the team and its medical staff, alleging that his career ended prematurely because they negligently allowed him to play while he was still suffering from concussion-related …
Continue ReadingA-Rod Forfeits in Fight with MLB Over Suspension; Drops Suit Against League
Recently, arbitrator Frederic Horowitz reduced the 211-game suspension of Yankees all-star third baseman Alex Rodriguez to 162 games for A-Rod’s role in the Biogensis performance-enhancing drugs scandal. A-Rod wasn’t satisfied with the reduction, however, and filed a tortious interference lawsuit against Major League Baseball and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig in New York federal court with the hopes of reversing the suspension entirely.
Now, A-Rod’s attorney Joseph Tacopina acknowledged to ESPN that the all-star had filed a voluntary notice of dismissal which effectively dropped the lawsuit. …
Continue ReadingHoffman Friend Sues ‘National Enquirer” for Libel
There has been plenty of controversy and media hype over the apparent heroin overdose that caused the death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. Now David Bar Katz, a playwright friend of Hoffman’s, is suing the publisher of the National Enquirer tabloid, American Media, Inc., for libel over a recent story in the magazine which stated that Hoffman and Bar Katz were gay lovers, and that Bar Katz had witnessed Hoffman doing drugs on several occasions, including the night before Hoffman’s untimely death.
Bar Katz’s lawsuit …
Continue Reading#BigBrotherisWatching Twitter Takes on US Gov Over Disclosure of Surveillance Information Requests
A recent agreement between tech companies Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft and Yahoo and the Justice Department provided that these companies would be allowed to disclose when certain national security forces – such as those acting under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act – required the tech giants to turn over information related to their users. Now, the social media company Twitter has announced that it is ready to sue the Obama administration for the right to disclose information related to government surveillance requests targeting Twitter users.…
Continue ReadingMötley Crüe Signs Agreement to Stay “Home Sweet Home” After Final Tour
On January 28, 2014, rock and rollers Mötley Crüe announced that they would permanently dissolve the group after a final tour, going so far as to sign an agreement which will force the band into permanent retirement. Now however, band members have commented that the so-called “cessation of touring agreement” is simply that. In other words, the contract wouldn’t split the group up – it would simply prevent them from ever going on tour again. The agreement would also restrict the band’s ability to perform …
Continue ReadingHouse Democrats Attempting to Save Net Neutrality
Recently, the federal appeals court for the D.C. Circuit vacated the Federal Communication Commission (FCC)’s net neutrality rules, claiming that the FCC had failed to justify these regulations under existing law. However, noting that the appeals court ruling clearly stated that the FCC had the power to regulate broadband access, two Representatives – California Democrats Henry Waxman and Anna Eshoo – are leading a Congressional push to get temporary net neutrality rules in place until the FCC can properly tailor those regulations in a manner …
Continue ReadingJunior Seau’s Family Displeased with Proposed Settlement in NFL Concussion Case
Fighting recently broke out amongst plaintiff’s attorneys attempting to settle the massive multi-district concussion litigation against the NFL after the presiding judge, U.S. District Judge Anita Brody, nixed a $760 million dollar settlement deal proposal. Judge Brody’s concerns were that the lump sum would be inadequate to fund what could potentially involve 20,000 claims by a variety of NFL alumni over a period of 65 years. Now, the family of the deceased NFL star Junior Seau is voicing their own objections to the proposed deal.…
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