K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (August 19, 2025)

Sports:

• A Connecticut Little League and its national parent company have pushed back against a group of parents accusing them of not properly training volunteer coaches, saying that the organization they represent does not actually exist, and that the plaintiffs should face sanctions. Little League Calls Parents’ Safety Suit A ‘Personal Vendetta’ – Law360

NCAA

• Long-distance runner Evie Parts has sued the NCAA and Swarthmore College as well as members of its athletic department, saying they illegally removed her from the track team because she is a transgender athlete. Transgender runner Evie Parts sues NCAA and Swarthmore College for removal from track team – AP
• Reggie Bush’s attorney urged a Los Angeles judge Friday to reconsider a tentative ruling that would toss the former football star’s suit accusing the NCAA, the University of Southern California and the Pac-12 Conference of exploiting his name, image and likeness, saying Bush did not sign his rights away. Reggie Bush Didn’t Sign NIL Rights Away, Court Told – Law360

NFL

• A letter surfaced Friday from the Ohio Department of Transportation denying a permit for the Cleveland Browns’ new stadium, saying the height of the structure would be “an obstruction” to the airspace at its current proposed location in a Cleveland suburb. Ohio Regulator Denies Permit For Cleveland Browns’ Stadium – Law360
• Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores‘ lawsuit against the NFL and several of its teams can proceed in open court after a federal appeals court ruled Aug. 14 that the league’s arbitration provision is unenforceable. NFL loses another round in Brian Flores’ suit alleging racial discrimination – USA Today

NBA

• A group headed by Bill Chisholm is set to take control of the Boston Celtics after the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the sale on Wednesday. NBA clears Boston Celtics’ $6.1 billion sale to Bill Chisholm – CNN

Entertainment:

FILM & TELEVISION

• Dr. Phil’s production company and a bankrupt broadcaster he co-founded must comply with discovery requests from creditors trying to dismiss Merit Street Media’s increasingly contentious Chapter 11, a TX bankruptcy judge said. Dr. Phil Fires Back at Merit Street Litigants TBN, PBR in Bankruptcy Case
• The film production company behind the 2022 film Fall lost its fight at the 9^th Circuit to force Cox Communications to hand over the names of a group of subscribers who allegedly were pirating copies of the film. Internet Access Providers Aren’t Bound by DMCA Unmasking Subpoenas-In re Cox – Technology & Marketing Law Blog

LAWSUITS OF THE RICH & FAMOUS

• Bob Dylan took another step toward gaining sanctions against two lawyers he accused of discovery violations in a sex assault case brought by a woman who has dropped her lawsuit against the folk music legend. Bob Dylan Sexual Abuse Lawsuit: Singer Wins Fines Against Lawyers
• The 11^th Circuit has partially revived comedian Eric André’s lawsuit alleging he was subjected to a “degrading” search and seizure by police at an Atlanta airport, restoring his 4^th Amendment claims while backing the dismissal of his allegations that he was racially profiled. Appeals Court Sides With Comedians, Rules Against Police In Georgia Airport Stop Lawsuit
• Lizzo‘s touring company urged a CA federal judge to sanction a former designer for failing to disclose records of receiving mental health treatment to support her emotional distress claim, arguing it was forced to hire its own expert to examine her and prepare a rebuttal without those records. Lizzo Touring Co. Wants Designer Sanctioned Over Health Info – Law360
• A group of models including Carmen Electra have officially dropped their lawsuit claiming that a trio of Philadelphia strip clubs misappropriated their likenesses for advertisements, according to filings in PA federal court. Carmen Electra, Other Models End Suit With Strip Clubs – Law360

MUSIC

• A musical duo suing Cardi B urged a federal judge to order the rapper to remove her hit single “Enough (Miami)” from all digital platforms while their intellectual property lawsuit proceeds. Cardi B Lawsuit: Producers Want ‘Enough (Miami)’ Off ‘Am I the Drama?’
• A federal judge’s ruling that collective rights organization SoundExchange lacks authority to sue over unpaid royalties threatens to disrupt a two-decade old corner of the music industry established to ensure recording artists get paid. Sirius XM Win Erodes SoundExchange Copyright Enforcement Arsenal