K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (April 30, 2024)

Sports:

NCAA

• Twenty-six current and former collegiate athletes who played in the state of Iowa filed a federal lawsuit Friday against the state and its Division of Criminal Investigation of its Department of Public Safety, alleging that their civil rights were violated. Iowa Athletes File Lawsuit, Allege Rights Were Violated in Gambling Investigation – Bleacher Report
• Two college basketball players say they are owed an extra year of NCAA eligibility, and they are taking the matter to court. Chris Ledlum and Jordan Dingle both played in the Ivy League before transferring to St. John’s, but the Ivy League season was not played in 2020-21 due to the pandemic. But their waiver for a fifth year was denied by the NCAA – now, the players have filed a lawsuit in the Queens Supreme Court in New York. 2 St. John’s players sue NCAA over extra year of eligibility – Fox News
• Reggie Bush is overjoyed to have his Heisman Trophy once again. Now he wants his reputation back as well. The former Southern California tailback says the return of his Heisman is the biggest step yet in what he sees as his fight against the NCAA to restore his good name and his records from his incredible college football career. Bush pointedly said he “never cheated” during his three seasons at USC. Reggie Bush plans to continue his fight against the NCAA after the return of his Heisman Trophy – AP News
• Don’t make too much of a Leon County judge handing Florida State University a homecourt loss Monday in the Seminoles’ ongoing litigation against the Atlantic Coast Conference. That request was, essentially, part of the ruling the judge, John C. Cooper, made from the bench at the end of the latest hearing about the FSU’s future in the ACC. Florida State takes homecourt loss in ACC lawsuit, but case ‘not over’ – Tampa Bay Times
• Florida’s attorney general sued the Atlantic Coast Conference on Thursday, claiming the collegiate athletic conference wrongfully withheld media rights contracts from public review that are at the center of Florida State University’s fight to leave the ACC. Fla. Sues ACC, Saying Media Contracts Are Public Records – Law360

MLB

• Tampa Bay Rays majority owner Stuart Sternberg has agreed to settle a lawsuit by the Major League Baseball team’s minority owners accusing him of trying to squeeze them out of profits. Tampa Bay Rays Owner Settles Suit With Minority Owners – Law360
• A fired minor league umpire sued Major League Baseball on Wednesday, claiming he was sexually harassed by a female umpire and discriminated against because he is male and bisexual. Ex-minor league umpire sues MLB, says he was harassed by female ump, fired for being bisexual man – Washington Post
• Prosecutors in Arizona have filed felony charges against a woman who accused former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer of sexual assault, alleging she defrauded the former Cy Young winner. The charges come after a Grand Jury in Maricopa County handed down an indictment against Darcy Adanna Esemonu on one count of fraud and one count of theft by extortion. Woman who accused former MLB pitcher Trevor Bauer of sex assault charged with fraud – KIAH Houston

NFL

• Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell is among the victims of a mass shooting late Saturday night in Sanford. The shooting occurred during a Cabana Live Event, according to Seminole County law enforcement officials. It has been determined that 10 people had non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, deputies said. NFL Star Among 10 Mass-Shooting Victims at Florida Festival – FanNation

GOLF

• Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are among the golfers expected to be given equity in PGA Tour Enterprises as a thank you for sticking with the Tour instead of jumping to rival LIV Golf, the Telegraph reported on Wednesday. Woods will receive a $100 million and McIlroy a $50 million stake in the newly formed enterprise for not taking lucrative offers from the Saudi-backed LIV as merger negotiations between the two circuits continue to drag on. Report: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy will get huge loyalty bonuses from PGA Tour – USA Today

Entertainment:

MUSIC

• Madonna is facing another proposed class action alleging the pop star kept fans waiting hours for her concert to begin, this time from show attendees in Washington, D.C., who claim that Madonna and Live Nation are “a consumer’s worst nightmare.” Madonna sued again for late concert starts (nme.com)
• The 7^th Circuit refused to disturb R. Kelly‘s Chicago conviction and 20-year prison sentence on child pornography and inducement charges targeting decades-old misconduct, rejecting his argument that the statute of limitations had run out on the U.S. government’s case. Appeals court upholds R. Kelly’s Chicago conviction for sex crimes – CBS Chicago (cbsnews.com)
• Britney Spears and her father, James Spears, have settled a dispute over his bid for legal fees and management of his daughter’s finances in the conservatorship that was ended more than two years ago, according to stipulations filed this week in CA state court. Britney Spears settles long-running legal dispute with estranged father, finally bringing ultimate end to conservatorship | CNN

FILM & TELEVISION

• NY’s highest court overturned Harvey Weinstein‘s rape conviction and granted a new trial to the disgraced movie mogul, saying it was an “egregious” error to allow the Manhattan DA’s Office to present evidence of uncharged crimes. Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial overturned | AP News
• Alec Baldwin is accusing NM prosecutors of committing a “mountain of misconduct” in pursuing a “wildly out of control” involuntary manslaughter case against the Rust actor-producer. ‘Rust’ Trial: Alec Baldwin Alleges ‘Abuse of Prosecutorial Power’ (variety.com)
• Actor Tracee Ellis Ross and the producers of the Black-ish spinoff Mixed-ish convinced a CA appeals court to toss a suit from comedian Hayley Marie Norman, alleging that Mixed-ish took Norman’s idea for a TV show about growing up biracial in the suburbs without compensating her. ‘Mixed-ish’ Lawsuit: Court Dismisses Claims Against Series Creators (hollywoodreporter.com)
• A CO judge has sided with Netflix in a fight with the state over whether its streaming service subscriptions are subject to sales tax, finding that because the subscriptions can’t be physically touched, they don’t fit the law’s definition of “tangible” property. Sales Tax Can’t Touch Netflix Subscriptions, Judge Says – Law360

ART, FASHION, & VIDEO GAMES

• The Federal Trade Commission has moved to block a planned $8.5 billion deal for the parent company of Coach and Kate Spade to purchase the owner of designer brands Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo. US sues to block merger of Coach and Michael Kors handbag makers | Reuters
• Artist Elizabeth Waterman is suing Spotify for using and distributing images online of a copyrighted photo she owns without authorization. Spotify Faces Infringement Suit Over Music Single’s Cover Photo (bloomberglaw.com)
• Video game addiction suits are becoming increasingly popular. New slate of lawsuits brings video game addiction to the forefront – Polygon A gamer has sued Microsoft, Nintendo of America Inc., Rockstar Games Inc. and other video game developers in GA federal court over allegations that they are intentionally getting users addicted to boost profits, saying he’s suffering from depression and anxiety because of his addiction. Microsoft, Nintendo And Others Sued Over Addictive Games – Law360

MEANWHILE, IN HOLLYWOOD…

• A proposed class of supplement buyers is suing a brain health supplement founded and promoted by podcaster Joe Rogan in NY federal court, saying the company’s own studies prove false its advertisements claiming the product is “clinically” proven to promote cognitive function. Alpha Brain Lawsuit Claims Brain Supplements Pushed by Joe Rogan Don’t Work as Advertised (classaction.org)
• Guns N’ Roses lead singer Axl Rose has asked a NY state court to throw out a former Penthouse model’s civil suit claiming he sexually assaulted her in a hotel in the late 1980s, arguing that the interaction was consensual and calling the claim “salacious, inflammatory and false.” Axl Rose Slams Ex-Penthouse Pet of the Year Suing Over Alleged 1989 Sexual Assault, Accuses Her of Rewriting History (radaronline.com)
• Megan Thee Stallion‘s former cameraman filed a labor violation and harassment complaint in CA state court alleging the rapper created a hostile work environment by having sex in his presence during an Ibiza car ride and subjecting him to fat-shaming comments. Megan Thee Stallion: Cameraman accuses rapper of ‘hostile’ workplace (bbc.com)
• Ye, his companies, and Donda Academy were hit with another discrimination suit in CA state court by a former employee who says the rapper treated Black employees far worse than white employees and terminated him last year when he refused to give into Ye’s demands to shave his dreadlocks. Kanye West allegedly berated, fired black employee over refusal to cut dreads: lawsuit (pagesix.com)
• A Manhattan judge threw out a claim that the general counsel for rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson illegally recorded a former Beam Suntory Inc. sales contractor during an embezzlement investigation but allowed the consultant to revise his pleading. 50 Cent’s GC Beats Wiretap Claim In Liquor Feud, For Now – Law360