A lot has happened between the National Football League and National Football League Players Association these last few weeks regarding the scope and ability of Commissioner Roger Goodell to discipline players. Here is a brief summary of what has transpired: Ray Rice, the former Baltimore Raven’s running back, is now free to sign with any […]
Popular sports commentator Bill Raftery is well known for his use of flamboyant words and phrases on the air. The most popular of said words and phrases include “Onions” and “With a Kiss.” When Raftery came to HEITNER LEGAL inquiring whether he could seek trademark protection of each, HEITNER LEGAL quickly got to work regarding […]
On June 16, 2014, a meeting took place at NFL headquarters in New York City. Those present were as follows: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell; NFL attorneys Jeff Pash and Kevin Manera; Adolpho Birch, NFL Vice President of Labor; now-former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice and his wife, Janay Palmer (at the time); attorney Heather […]
Back in May 2014, former NFL players filed a lawsuit in a San Francisco federal court on behalf of over 600 former NFL players from 1969 to 2008. The complaint alleges that the NFL illegally supplied the players with narcotics and painkillers to mask their injuries during games. This alleged medical malpractice has since led […]
Last week I wrote an article describing Marshall v. ESPN (see the Complaint here), the latest federal class-action lawsuit in which college athletes are seeking damages against the broadcasting firms, college athletic conferences, and licensing firms they allege violated their rights of publicity. Now I will analyze the fourth cause of action of the lawsuit, […]
An NCAA emerging sport is defined as: “A women’s sport recognized by the NCAA that is intended to help schools provide more athletics opportunities for women, more sport sponsorship options for institutions and help that sport achieve NCAA championship status.” Unfortunately, beginning in 2017, the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics (“CWA”) has recommended the NCAA […]
Ten former college football and basketball players, mostly residents of Tennessee, filed a class action lawsuit on October 3, 2014 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division. The plaintiff athletes, having played football and/or basketball for Vanderbilt University and The University of Tennessee, among other schools, seek to […]
In August of this year, the NCAA Board of Directors approved more autonomy for the Big 5 Conferences in a 16-2 vote. The Big 5, consisting of the SEC, ACC, Big 10, Big 12, and PAC 12, now has the power to change the landscape of collegiate athletics. These conferences have the ability to vote on and enact new rules […]
HEITNER LEGAL is very excited for its client A&G, who have had a preview of their forthcoming song “Run With Me” released as a teaser by Ultra Records. The track was produced by Northmark and includes vocals from Gabrielle Ross. HEITNER LEGAL successfully negotiated the contracts between A&G and the producer as well as A&G […]
The mandatory seminar and exam for those attempting to fulfill their childhood dreams of becoming a National Football League Players’ Association (NFLPA) Contract Advisor – more commonly known as an NFL player agent – was held on July 24-25. Now, roughly eight weeks later, many hopefuls are beginning to learn whether or not they achieved […]