K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (February 25, 2025)

Sports:

• The NFL, MLB, NCAA and NASCAR said they support a bill introduced in Congress on Thursday that would give state and local law enforcement the ability to disable drones during sporting events, which the leagues say have become an increasing threat. NFL, MLB, NCAA, NASCAR back bill to disable drones at stadiums – ESPN

NCAA

• The widow of a USC linebacker to whom a California jury denied $53 million in damages related to her wrongful death suit against the NCAA has appealed the decision to the Supreme Court of California, after an appellate court affirmed the decision. USC Widow Challenges NCAA Verdict In Calif. Supreme Court – Law360
• The National Labor Relations Board’s acting general counsel on Friday rescinded a memorandum issued by his Biden-administration predecessor that said she viewed college athletes as employees of their schools under the National Labor Relations Act. Trump administration rescinds NLRB memorandum viewing college athletes as employees – USA Today
• President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order enunciating that a school receiving federal funds violates Title IX by denying opportunities to athletes who are born women in favor of athletes who are transgender women. The executive order, a promise Trump made on the campaign trail, is likely to face legal challenges. Trump Trans Athlete Ban Gets NCAA Nod Amid Legal Uncertainty – Sportico
• A college baseball player said he is being “irreparably harmed” by a Tennessee federal judge’s decision denying his early request to override NCAA eligibility rules so he can play for the University of Tennessee for the Spring 2025 season, arguing that if the ruling is not reversed, his “collegiate baseball career will be over.” Player Says NCAA Waiver Denial Ends College Career – Law360

GOLF

• The current controversy between the PGA TOUR and LIV Golf may be coming to an end if negotiations between the Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) result in a deal. Among other things, the split has resulted in not all of the world’s best players competing against each other, with the exception for some in the four major championships. Golf Insider Has PGA TOUR, PIF in Agreement, Dept. of Justice Has 4 Options – Newsweek

Entertainment:

LAWSUITS OF THE RICH & FAMOUS

• Blake Lively has bulked up her sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit over the movie It End With Us, saying two other female cast members were also uncomfortable with Justin Baldoni‘s behavior on set and are prepared to testify in the messy legal fight. Blake Lively Says Two Actresses Set to Testify Against Justin Baldoni
• Nicolas Cage has been accused of wrongly enabling his adult son’s alleged assault of the latter’s mother by not properly addressing his longstanding mental health issues, according to a lawsuit filed against the actor and his son in California state court. Nicolas Cage’s ex Christina Fulton sues him over their son’s alleged attack
• A CA judge ordered rapper Ye to sit for a deposition and sanctioned him for failing to appear at a scheduled deposition in a discrimination suit by a former Donda Academy employee, the second time since the Grammy’s that the winner was hit with such an order. Kanye West, teetering on the edge of default judgments, ordered to sit for deposition | Courthouse News Service
• Kim Kardashian was sued in CA state court one year after a photo the reality television star posted in an Instagram story allegedly identified the wrong man as a TX prisoner on death row. Kim Kardashian sued by man she misidentified on Instagram as death row inmate
• A defense attorney representing Sean “Diddy” Combs in his criminal sex-trafficking case asked a Manhattan federal judge to allow him to quit, saying in a carefully worded court filing that “under no circumstances” could he continue to represent the disgraced hip-hop mogul. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Attorney Files Motion to Withdraw From Case
• Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter‘s company Roc Nation has asked a TX federal court to let it escape two lawsuits against it and its law firm alleging that they recruited former clients to bring malpractice claims against the Buzbee Law Firm in retaliation for accusing the rap star of rape. Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Aims To Duck Buzbee Conspiracy Suits – Law360
• The husband of Alicia Keys, hip-hop artist Swizz Beatz, has told a federal judge that a suit claiming he received millions of dollars that were stolen in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad fraud scandal should be tossed since it was brought after the six-year statute of limitations. Swizz Beatz Says Suit Over 1MDB Funds Is Time-Barred – Law360

FILM & TELEVISION

• Pepperdine University accused Netflix and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. of infringing its trademarks by featuring a basketball team using its name and colors in its new series Running Point, which is produced by Mindy Kaling, stars Kate Hudson, and releases this month. Netflix Sued Over New Mindy Kaling, Kate Hudson Show ‘Running Point’

MUSIC

• A NY federal judge has ordered a Miami rapper to pay out nearly $287,000 in legal fees for litigating a failed copyright case targeting Childish Gambino‘s hit song “This Is America,” less than a third of what the record label lawyers and others had asked for. Childish Gambino Nabs Fees In ‘This Is America’ IP Case – Law360
• A GA federal judge has pared a copyright infringement suit Atlanta rap producer Terrell Perry filed against several record labels for allegedly using his beats without permission in tracks by Rich Homie Quan, dropping Warner Music Group as a defendant and limiting the scope of what alleged infringement could be eligible for damages. Judge Trims Atlanta Rap Producer’s Copyright Suit – Law360
• An MI federal judge declined to issue sanctions against the estate of a former Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist suing the band’s frontman in a royalty dispute, finding that the keyboardist’s widow did not seem to intentionally lie about or conceal an agreement with a former defendant in the case. Funkadelic Keyboardist Won’t Face Sanctions In Royalty Fight – Law360