Boston University is requesting more than $119,000 in attorney’s fees accrued during its defense against the National Hockey League’s discovery request for documents and data related to research done by BU’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center. The NHL had requested all CTE research done by the University, but only received discovery related to six NHL players. BU claimed there is no reason the NHL would need data about other people, while the NHL argued that it needs all of the research available in order to …
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Vijay Singh Files Appeal Against PGA Tour
Vijay Singh has filed a cross-appeal against the PGA Tour in the latest chapter of litigation between the two parties that has spanned almost five years. The case, which has been ordered to trial, centers around Singh’s admitted use of deer antler spray that led to his suspension from the Tour. Singh sued the Tour in 2013, claiming the Tour unfairly suspended him for using the spray before it consulted with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), who had previously ruled that that the use of …
Continue ReadingWilson Hopes Class Action Suit Will be a Swing and a Miss
On Wednesday, June 7, 2017, Wilson Sporting Goods Co. asked an Illinois Federal Court to dismiss a putative class action suit involving their DeMarini youth baseball bats. The original suit was filed in April by parent Theodore Sheeley. Sheeley purchased a DeMarini youth baseball bat for his son who plays in leagues and tournaments in which all bats must follow USSSA standards. The DeMarini bat Sheeley purchased included the all-important silver sticker, which is reserved for bats that meet all USSSA regulations. Sheeley argues that …
Continue ReadingStudent-Athletes Want Schools Held in Contempt
Seven NCAA schools failed to meet the court’s deadline to turn over their athlete contact information. The student-athletes that comprise of the 4.4 million member class want the schools to be forced to explain why they missed the deadline. The student information is needed for the proposed concussion settlement process. On June 6, 2017, Judge John Lee extended the opt out or objection date for the NCAA concussion settlement. This settlement has been in the works for some time, but without the cooperation of …
Continue ReadingNew Jersey Fights Back for Supreme Court Sports Betting Review
On Tuesday, June 6, 2017, New Jersey and the state’s Thoroughbred Horseman’s (NJHTA) association made a final push to convince the U.S. Supreme Court to review whether a federal law, PASPA, can prevent New Jersey from repealing its laws banning sports betting in its state. Also referred to as the Bradley Act (the name of the law’s main sponsor, Sen. Bill Bradley), PASPA was intended to stop the spread of sports betting in the United States. Passed in 1992, PASPA stopped new states from legalizing …
Continue ReadingPut on Your Rally Caps: Cleveland Indians Complaint Still Alive in Ontario
Last October, Indigenous activist and architect, Douglas Cardinal, filed a complaint with Ontario’s human rights tribunal, which sought to bar the Cleveland Indians from being able to use their name or wear specific logos at Major League Baseball games played in Toronto. Cardinal alleged the team name and logo of “Chief Wahoo” — a grinning cartoon man with red skin and a feather in his headband — violated both provincial and national human rights legislation. Despite the MLB’s insistence to do so, tribunal adjudicator, Jo-Anne …
Continue ReadingDeceased Linebacker’s Estate Sues NCAA
The family of former Pittsburg State (KS) linebacker Zack Langston, who committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest at the age of 26, is suing the NCAA over its handling of concussions. The family alleges that Langston suffered more than 100 concussions while playing at Pittsburg State from 2007-2010, and was either not given the appropriate medical treatment or not treated at all by team doctors. The lawsuit claims that the NCAA has known for decades that severe hits to the head can lead …
Continue ReadingBoogaard Wrongful Death Suit Dismissed
On Monday, June 5, 2017, an Illinois federal judge dismissed the remainder of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of former National Hockey League player Derek Boogaard, who died of an alcohol and painkiller-induced overdose on May 13, 2011. A subsequent examination of Boogaard’s brain led to the determination that he was suffering from Stage II chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE., at the time of his death, which researchers attributed to “repeated blows to the head during his hockey career.” The lawsuit against …
Continue ReadingNCAA Athletes Granted Deadline Extension to Opt Out of Concussion Settlement
Judge John Lee, an Illinois federal judge, extended the opt out or objection date for the NCAA concussion settlement. Class members now have until August 4, 2017 to exclude themselves or object to the settlement. The settlement impacts an estimated 4.4 million current and former NCAA student-athletes in 43 different sports. In July 2016, Judge Lee pre-approved the $75 million settlement fund. The proposed fund earmarks $70 million for a 50-year medical monitoring program to screen student-athletes for head injuries. The additional $5 million …
Continue ReadingUNC Attempts to Block NCAA’s Latest Allegations Over “Sham” Classes
On Friday, May 26, 2017, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill made public their response to the NCAA’s third, and latest, NCAA notice of allegation of sham course for athletes. Their response included that the classes in question were available to all students and any irregularities were academic in nature and not subject to NCAA enforcement. The NCAA’s latest notice of allegations were filed at the close of 2016, and accused UNC of providing improper extra benefits to student-athletes so that they could remain eligible …
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