K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (May 14, 2024)

Sports:

• A Pennsylvania man intends to plead guilty to insider trading on Dick’s Sporting Goods securities in which he made nearly $825,000 based on tips unwittingly passed to him from an acquaintance who worked for the retail chain, according to federal court filings. Man To Cop To Dick’s Sporting Goods Insider Trading – Law360
• The First Circuit on Friday granted a former DraftKings executive’s request to expedite his appeal of a Boston federal judge’s ruling that blocked him from doing similar work in the U.S. for rival Fanatics. 1st Circ. Fast-Tracks DraftKings Noncompete Feud – Law360

NCAA

• Louisiana colleges could soon be allowed more involvement in athletes’ name, image and likeness (NIL) deals based on legislation that advanced Wednesday. The House Education Committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 465 by Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge. Talbot’s bill acts as a trigger-law that would immediately allow universities more involvement in NIL deals if federal law or NCAA regulations allow it. Louisiana lawmakers advance name, image and likeness trigger law – Louisiana Illuminator
• Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday introduced a bill that would give the NCAA, conferences, and colleges the type of protections from lawsuits that they have been seeking as part of legislation aimed at creating federal rules regarding athlete compensation and other college-sports matters. Two U.S. House members introduce bill that would grant NCAA legal protection – USA Today

NFL

• The NFL recently announced that it would let players wear Guardian Caps, an over the helmet padding, during regular season games. The NFL’s decision invites questions about the application of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) to the NFL workplace. NFL Guardian Caps Consistent With OSHA , Could Be A Sign Of Things To Come – Forbes

MLB

• The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud Wednesday in a sports betting case where prosecutors allege he stole $16 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts. Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, pleads guilty in sports betting case – AP
• A Colorado federal judge said Thursday he was “somewhat tempted” to transfer an age discrimination lawsuit brought by former MLB scouts if he ultimately decides the court doesn’t have jurisdiction over out-of-state teams, despite believing they may have a “fairly strong” argument that he can oversee the case against the league itself. Judge ‘Tempted’ To Transfer MLB Scouts’ Colo. Age Bias Suit – Law360

NHL

• A company called Uyte, LLC recently filed for nine trademark applications with the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), hinting at potential names for the new Salt Lake City based NHL team. Uyte, LLC was formed in early April, and the trademark applications were filed between April 16 and April 23. New Utah NHL Team Takes Shot-Pass With Nine Intent-to-Use Trademark Applications – JD Supra

Entertainment:

FILM & TELEVISION

• Sony Group Corp. plans to sell the historic Paramount Pictures lot in L.A., featured in films such as Sunset Boulevard, if it succeeds in buying the studio’s parent company, according to people familiar with management’s thinking. Sony considers selling Paramount lot | LinkedIn
• Amazon Studios and others involved in the 2024 remake of 1989’s Road House movie told a CA federal court that the writer behind the original film who is suing for copyright infringement does not own the rights to the script for the original. Amazon Says ‘Road House’ Writer Lied To Copyright Office Over Script (deadline.com)
• Gina Carano, featured in Star Wars spin-off series The Mandalorian urged a CA federal judge to reject Disney‘s bid to dismiss her suit alleging she was illegally fired for sharing her political views on social media, arguing the company hasn’t shown that her posts impeded its artistic expression. Gina Carano Rejects Disney’s Desire To Dismiss Her Discrimination Lawsuit (deadline.com)
• A federal jury in Philadelphia gazed at the googly eyes and blue fur of an attorney who donned the head of Sesame Street‘s Grover to tell them that performers wearing the fluorescent bodysuits of other beloved Muppets discriminated against children at a PA theme park because of the color of their skin. Atty Dons Muppet Head To Open Sesame Place Race Bias Trial – Law360
• A Canadian film producer was hit with a more than $19 million jury verdict after he failed to show up at trial in FL federal court over claims he allegedly defrauded an investor out of millions of dollars meant to fund several productions. Film Investor Wins $19M Verdict Against Producer – Law360

MUSIC

• Live Nation Entertainment Inc., parent company of Ticketmaster, is set to meet with senior Justice Department officials in the coming weeks in a bid to stave off a potential antitrust lawsuit to break up the company. It isn’t likely to work. WSJ: Justice Department will sue Live Nation for antitrust violations | CNN Business

ART & FASHION

• A CA federal judge denied a photographer’s new trial motion in a copyright case accusing celebrity tattooist Kat Von D of infringing his portrait of Miles Davis, rejecting his argument that the jury’s finding of fair use of the portrait conflicted with the evidence at trial. Judge declines to order new trial in Miles Davis tattoo copyright case (completemusicupdate.com)
• Jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co. has settled its suit in CA federal court alleging Italian clothing company Brunello Cucinelli infringed on Levi’s tab trademark in an effort to sow customer confusion and reap profits. Levi Strauss Settles Trademark Lawsuit Against Brunello Cucinelli (sourcingjournal.com)

MEANWHILE, IN HOLLYWOOD…

• A Los Angeles County man who says he was beat “ruthlessly” by security after he rushed the stage and tackled Dave Chappelle at a Hollywood Bowl show in 2022 to protest the comedian’s “discriminatory” jokes has sued the venue for negligent security and battery. Man who tackled Dave Chappelle at Hollywood Bowl sues venue – Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
• Kevin Spacey successfully bid to overturn a default judgment against him at a London court — but the actor now faces a trial to fight off a man’s £457,000 ($574,000) sexual assault claim. Kevin Spacey Sexual Assault Trial for Civil Claim in U.K. Set (hollywoodreporter.com)
• Rapper 50 Cent has accused his former romantic partner of a “calculated plan” to prevent him from obtaining full custody of their child, saying in a Houston defamation lawsuit that she falsely accused him of rape after an NY suit against rapper Diddy claimed she was previously a sex worker. 50 Cent sues ex Daphne Joy for defamation after she publicly accuses him of rape, physical abuse (pagesix.com)
• A CA judge dismissed a lawsuit accusing Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee of groping a woman in 2003, finding the claims cannot be carried under a statute that opened a lookback window for sexual assault claims that may otherwise be time-barred, but granted leave to amend the complaint. Tommy Lee Wins Round in Helicopter Sexual Assault Lawsuit (rollingstone.com)