K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (March 19, 2024)

Sports:

NCAA:

• Dartmouth College must bargain with its men’s basketball team after the National Labor Relations Board certified the players’ recent landmark vote to unionize with the Service Employees International Union on Thursday, but a legal challenge looms. The certification, which the board issues when no party objects to the process or result of an election, obligates the school to begin negotiating with the players union following their March 5 vote, the first to establish a union of college athletes. NLRB Certifies Dartmouth Men’s Basketball Player Union – Law360
• The NCAA has been sued by 16 women over its transgender participation policies, an unprecedented action in the world of collegiate sports. The female athletes claim the current rules threaten their rights under Title IX, the law that prohibits discrimination based on sex if an institution receives federal funding. 16 female athletes sue NCAA over transgender policy – UPI News
• Hawaii Pacific University will face trial on whether it discriminated against the head coach of its women’s softball team by paying her less based on her gender. Hawaii Pacific University Softball Coach to Get Equal Pay Trial – Bloomberg News

NFL

• A federal judge once again dismissed a defamation lawsuit, stemming from a paternity case, filed against Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and other associates. Judge Robert W. Schroeder III for the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Texas dismissed the lawsuit Wednesday with prejudice. Report: Federal judge dismisses defamation lawsuit against Jerry Jones in paternity case – USA Today

NHL

• The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have reached an undisclosed settlement to resolve Corey Perry’s situation with the Chicago Blackhawks when they terminated his contract, two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday. NHL and NHLPA reach a settlement on Blackhawks terminating Corey Perry’s contract, AP sources say – The Associated Press.

GOLF

• Patrick Cantlay has confirmed that the PGA Tour’s Policy Board will meet with Yasir al-Rumayyan after The Players Championship, according to multiple reports. Al-Rumayyan serves as the governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the benefactor of LIV Golf. He has met with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan before, most recently in January in Saudi Arabia, as the two sides look to resolve golf’s current schism. Patrick Cantlay confirms PGA Tour policy board meeting with LIV Golf, Saudi PIF boss – SB Nation

MLB

• A Michigan federal judge said Friday a jury should hear a 58-year-old former Detroit Tigers clubhouse manager’s claims that he was fired because of his age, pointing to a record that could show his boss had a pattern of replacing older workers with younger ones. Detroit Tigers Can’t Shut Out Ex-Worker’s Age Bias Suit – Law360

Entertainment:

MUSIC

• Rapper Drake has asked a TX court to free him from the multidistrict litigation created to handle claims arising from the 2021 Astroworld festival, writing that he has “no recognized legal duty” to the victims and other plaintiffs. Drake’s Lawyers Say He Was ‘Not Involved’ in Astroworld Planning (rollingstone.com)
• A cost-cutting firm will have to face claims that it used a Snoop Dogg soundalike to make illegal robocalls in an attempt to get people to enlist their help signing up for a tax credit, promising the company could “have them funds in your hands quicker than you can roll up your favorite … well, you know what I mean.” Firm Can’t Drop Snoop Dogg Robocall Suit Like It’s Hot – Law360

FILM & TELEVISION

• The makers of a new documentary about Beatles collaborator Billy Preston were slapped with a lawsuit by Preston Music Group Inc. and friends of the late musician, claiming they were duped into contributing to the “salacious” film, which they say focused on outing Preston as gay rather than the Grammy winner’s accomplishments. Billy Preston Documentary Hit By Lawsuit By Sam & Dave Singer Before Debut (deadline.com)
• Roman Polanski has been sued yet again for sexual assault of a minor by a woman, represented by Gloria Allred, who accuses him of assaulting her in 1973 when she was still a minor. Director Roman Polanski is sued over more allegations of sexual assault of a minor | FOX40
• Children’s publishing giant Scholastic announced that it will acquire all the economic interest and minority voting rights in 9 Story Media Group, the independent animation creator behind Doc McStuffins, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, and Wild Kratts, for roughly $186 million. Scholastic to Invest $186M In Animation Studio 9 Story Media (hollywoodreporter.com)
• An attorney for Creative Artists Agency urged a CA judge to rethink his tentative ruling to allow an attorney-turned-writer’s suit against the agency to move toward a trial, saying the court’s finding of substantial similarity between allegedly stolen script elements and the plaintiff’s script threatens writers’ creative freedom. Atty-Writer’s Suit Against CAA Poised To Move Forward – Law360

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

• Writers Abdi Nazemian, Brian Keene, and Stewart O’Nan have filed a pair of proposed class actions in CA federal court that accuse Nvidia and Databrick of ripping off their copyright-protected works. Nvidia is sued for allegedly training AI on copyrighted work (qz.com)

MEANWHILE, IN HOLLYWOOD…

• A lifestyle brand headed by Instagram celebrity Dan Bilzerian could face sanctions should it continue to recycle arguments for why it shouldn’t be forced to pay a $1.6 million judgment to a consulting firm it was accused of cheating, a NV federal judge warned in an order denying the brand’s motion for reconsideration. Judge Blasts Instagrammer’s Bid To Upend $1.6M Ruling – Law360
• Hollywood producer David Brown, who says he was depicted as a “con artist” in a recent LA Times article, sued one of his accusers for slander, libel and breach of contract in CA state court, saying the film director interviewed by the Times is on a quest to destroy his reputation. Film Producer Sues Director For Painting Him As ‘Con Artist’ – Law360