K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (October 29, 2024)

Sports:

NCAA

• A federal judge late Wednesday ordered the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to lock down UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium on the VA’s West Los Angeles campus at noon Thursday until the university comes up with a proposal for the stadium grounds to be used for the benefit of the military veterans for whom the land was originally deeded. Federal judge orders UCLA stadium locked down under lawsuit over veterans housing – ABC
• Michigan State University officials want a federal judge to toss the wrongful termination suit of its former football coach Mel Tucker, whom the school fired amid sexual misconduct allegations, arguing Wednesday it followed policy and has immunity based on state and federal law. MSU Moves To Spike Ex-Football Coach’s Termination Fight – Law360

Basketball

• Former Los Angelos Clippers employee Randy Shelton is suing his former team over allegations of “illegal treatment for injuries” involving NBA star Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi Leonard’s personal trainer accuses Clippers of illegally treating NBA star’s injuries: Lawsuit – Yahoo Sports
• Hours after they became the first father-son duo to share an NBA court together, LeBron and Bronny James were sued for their alleged involvement in a 2022 car crash in the desert town of Littlerock in the Antelope Valley. LeBron and Bronny James made history on court. Now they may have to appear in court over alleged car crash – LA Times
• The Women’s National Basketball Players Association has opted out of its collective bargaining agreement with the WNBA and will negotiate a new deal following a season that saw massive jumps in viewers and attendance. WNBA Players Opt To Redo Labor Deal After Growth Season – Law360

NFL

• The Browns‘ back-and-forth battle with Cleveland over a planned move into a new suburban stadium has gone to court. The NFL team said Thursday it has filed a lawsuit in federal court asking for clarification of the “Modell Law,” which the city has threatened to use to keep the Browns from leaving after their lease at lakefront Huntington Bank Field expires in 2028. Browns sue city of Cleveland, seek clarification of ‘Modell Law’ – ESPN

MLB

• The ball which Shohei Ohtani made baseball history with by becoming the inaugural member of the 50-50 club sold for almost $4.4 million at auction on Wednesday, despite its ownership being the subject of an ongoing lawsuit. Shohei Ohtani’s historic 50-50 ball sells for record price of $4.39M at auction amid ongoing lawsuit over ownership – CNN

Entertainment:

MUSIC

• The GA Supreme Court threw out the contempt conviction of the attorney representing the rapper Young Thug over the lawyer’s refusal to disclose how he learned about a judge’s closed-door meeting with prosecutors and a witness, saying that judge was “involved in the controversy” and thus should not have handled the contempt hearing. Young Thug Attorney’s Contempt Order Reversed By Georgia Supreme Court
• Grammy Award-winning rapper Lil Durk was charged with orchestrating the attempted murder of a rival rapper, which led to a shooting near a L.A. shopping mall that left one person dead, the DOJ announced. Rapper Lil Durk arrested in Florida on murder for hire charge

FILM & TELEVISION

• Paramount Pictures again defeated a lawsuit by two actors challenging the redistribution of the 1968 film adaptation of Romeo & Juliet that contained a nude scene, because a CA judge said a prior court already decided the film’s distribution was protected activity and, accordingly, the actors are barred from relitigating the issue. Judge Dismisses ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Lawsuit Over Underage Nude Scene
• Tesla Inc. and Elon Musk used “an apparently AI-generated faked image” to promote Tesla’s new autonomous cybercab at an event this month despite Alcon Entertainment’s rejection of a request to use a still image from its Blade Runner 2049 movie, a federal lawsuit says. ‘Blade Runner 2049’ Producers Sue Musk, Tesla and WBD
• A CA judge gave preliminary approval to a $1.4 million settlement between Netflix and contestants from the reality television shows Love Is Blind and The Ultimatum to end a putative wage class action alleging the contestants were forced to work long hours with little pay. Judge advances ‘Love Is Blind’ cast members’ $1.4 million Netflix settlement | Courthouse News Service
• A CA judge was undecided Friday about tossing on free speech grounds a defamation lawsuit from former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider against Warner Brothers Discovery over its Quiet on Set docuseries, remarking during a hearing that such motions are so headache-inducing he must “remember to bring [his] Advil.” Defamation lawsuit over Max docuseries on the ‘dark side’ of Nickelodeon could be thrown out | Courthouse News Service
• Streamers and retailers facing a copyright suit from a Mexican author argue that the screenwriter of the 2023 film Jules couldn’t have adapted the script from a Spanish-language novel within the seven months claimed by the plaintiff. Amazon Seeks to Dismiss Copyright Suit Over Alien, Old Man Movie
• A Black production executive and her Latina colleague with decades of experience working on Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune have accused Sony Pictures Entertainment of race, gender and age discrimination as well as retaliation, according to complaints filed with both the National Labor Relations Board and California’s Civil Rights Department. ‘Jeopardy,’ ‘Wheel of Fortune’ hit with race discrimination claims
• Hollywood giants accused of stealing ideas from writers often play a powerful free speech card to freeze lawsuits in a way attorneys say has severely tilted the scales against creatives in California. Hollywood Studios Use Free Speech Law to Beat Idea Theft Suits
• A Los Angeles judge declined to dismiss Empire star Terrence Howard‘s suit alleging Creative Artists Agency’s conflicting interests led him to accept a salary below industry standards, finding the latest version of the complaint adequately addressed her statute of limitations concerns.  3rd Take’s The Charm For Terrence Howard in CAA Suit – Law360

MEANWHILE, IN HOLLYWOOD…

• Attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs asked a Manhattan federal judge to order all prospective witnesses and their lawyers not to “assassinate” his character in the media, as seven new sexual assault lawsuits against him hit dockets in NY. Lawsuits against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs pile up as his lawyers seek gag order | Reuters
• Film director and convicted sex offender Roman Polanski has reached a settlement with a woman who says he raped her when she was a teenage girl more than 50 years ago, leading to the dismissal of her lawsuit filed in CA court. Roman Polanski’s L.A. Trial Over Alleged Rape Canceled; Case Settled
• A NY state judge denied Harvey Weinstein a separate trial for his new sexual assault charge, ruling that he must face that allegation alongside his original indictment at a retrial that is now expected to begin in early 2025. Harvey Weinstein NYC sex crime cases consolidated into one 2025 trial | Courthouse News Service