A Lady Never Tells Her Age, But IMDb Does: Actress Loses Suit Against “Bible of the Industry”

Huong Hoang, a/k/a, Junie Hoang, star of Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver, recently lost her suit against the Internet Movie Database when a Washington State Federal Jury rejected her claim that the database provider breached Hoang’s subscriber agreement.

The B-movie actress sued IMBd.com after it published her true date of birth over her objection. Originally suing as ‘Jane Doe’ in 2011 claiming breach of contract, fraud, and violations of Washington’s privacy and consumer protection laws, Hoang had to re-file using her true name …

April 23, 2013 NCAA

ACC Locks Down Members with Media Rights Deal

On April 22, 2013, the Atlantic Coast Conference (“ACC”) Counsel of Presidents voted to approve a grant of media rights through 2026-27. Because the deal ensures that each school’s media rights for all home games would remain with the ACC regardless of the member institution’s exit from the conference, the move would make it almost financially impossible for member schools to leave. The ACC is now the fourth league of the “power five” (which also includes the Big Ten, Pac-12, Big 12, and the SEC) …

April 16, 2013 Concussions

Riddell Takes Huge Hit with Multi-Million Dollar Verdict in Colorado Concussion Lawsuit

A jury in Las Animas County, Colorado, returned an $11.5 million verdict against helmet manufacturer Riddell and several school officials in a case involving a teen football player who was injured in 2008. The Ridolfi family filed a lawsuit after their son Brett suffered a concussion during high school football practice. Brett wasn’t immediately taken to the hospital, and later suffered permanent brain damage and paralysis on his left side. The family brought suit against Riddell and others to recover for Brett’s injuries.

The jury …

April 12, 2013 Litigation

No Stock for Shock Jock – Stern Loses Battle with Sirius XM

On April 11, 2013, New York’s First Judicial Department affirmed a trial court’s dismissal of an action brought by radio shock jock Howard Stern against Sirius XM Radio, Inc. Stern’s suit alleged that he was contractually owed $330 million in stock awards after Sirius merged with XM Satellite Radio in 2008. According to Stern, the contract he signed with Sirius entitled him to an equity bonus whenever new subscribers signed up to the satellite radio service. Stern asserted that, following the merger, the new audience …

April 11, 2013 Fraud

Tour de Courts: SCA and Armstrong Battle It Out on Question of Fraud and Settlement

Lance Armstrong is riding a new tour these days, but instead of fresh air and the beautiful landscapes of France, this tour will be inside offices (lawyers’ offices) and courtrooms. Yes, it is the Tour de Courts. Since his confession to doping in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, his legal problems have compiled dramatically.

One of the more public legal disputes is with SCA Promotions (SCA). SCA helps companies run promotions that involve large payouts – payouts that these companies would otherwise not be …

April 9, 2013 Concussions

Former NFL Players Fighting to Stay in Court in Hearing on Concussion Suit

On April 9, 2013, U.S. District Judge Anita Brody heard oral arguments in the ongoing NFL concussion litigation venued in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The suit essentially accuses the League of downplaying the risks of concussions and other playing-related head injuries and their effect on later-life cognitive decline. Multiple pending suits were condensed into a single multi-district litigation earlier last year and now includes over 4,200 former NFL players as plaintiffs. The outcome of today’s hearing could decide whether the lawsuit will continue in …

April 9, 2013 Antitrust / NCAA

O’Bannon Lawsuit Could Change the Face of NCAA Athletics

Former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon began his antitrust legal dispute against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”) back in 2009, when he sued the NCAA for wrongfully profiting off the likenesses of former student athletes in EA Sports video games. The suit accuses the NCAA of forcing students to waive the right to make money off of their likenesses, a behavior which amounts to an illegal restraint of trade.

In a new twist, in her January ruling, federal Judge Claudia Wilken permitted O’Bannon to …

April 3, 2013 NCAA

Penn State Taking Notable Steps to Implement Systemic Changes After Sandusky Scandal

Penn State is apparently making steady progress in incorporating the requirements mandated by the NCAA on the heels of the embarrassing Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. Last month, former Senator George Mitchell (the third-party Athletics Integrity Monitor) stated that Penn State is implementing various campus-wide changes to address deficiencies which had rendered the University and its administrators partly culpable for Sandusky’s criminal actions.

Mr. Mitchell recently detailed in a second quarterly report to the NCAA and Penn State (as required to be issued pursuant …

April 2, 2013 Celebrities / Litigation

Stevie Wonder’s Alleged Blackmailer Claims the Higher Ground in Suit Against TMZ for Eavesdropping on Trial

Alpha Walker was on trial for allegedly extorting Stevie Wonder (by threatening to release a potentially embarrassing video tape). In a strange turn of events, Walker is now suing TMZ for planting hidden microphones on the judge’s bench and recording privileged conversations during the extortion trial.

TMZ had been admitted to the courtroom to film the “on the record” portions of the proceedings. Apparently, Judge Ray G. Jurado discovered that microphones had been planted on his bench and at the tables for both the prosecution …

April 2, 2013 NBA

Heat is Off the Spurs for Resting Star Players as Class-Action Suit is Dropped

On March 29, 2013, Attorney Larry McGuinness voluntarily withdrew a putative class action lawsuit against the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs. The suit had accused the team of wrongfully benching several star players (Tim Duncan, Danny Green, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker) in a November 29^,2012 game against the defending NBA champion Miami heat. Plaintiffs argued that the move caused the plaintiffs (i.e. the ticket holders to the event) economic damage because they had paid premium prices to attend the proposed star-studded event but …

Sports and Entertainment Law Insider™

LATEST INSIGHTS