Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Eighth Circuit Revives NFL Players' Pay Cap Lawsuit

BY Jan Wolfe
July 02, 2014

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has given the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) an opening to revive its $3 billion lawsuit accusing league owners of colluding to place a secret salary cap on the 2010 season. White v. National Football League, 13-1251. But the NFLPA and its lawyers still face a long road to recovering any damages.

Back in 2012, U.S. District Judge David Doty in Minneapolis ruled that the NFLPA was bound by a prior stipulation that it wouldn't press collusion claims against league owners over the alleged pay cap. The Eighth Circuit partially reversed that decision, ruling that the NFLPA should be given a chance to argue that the stipulation was procured through fraud and is therefore invalid.

In 1993, the NFL settled an antitrust class action lawsuit brought by former players. According to the judge who signed off on that settlement, it included “strict anti-collusion provisions with an expedited and comprehensive enforcement mechanism to deter and punish any collusion” between team owners. Flash forward to the 2010 season, which was the first in almost 20 years not to be governed by a collective bargaining agreement. That meant the traditional cap on how much teams can spend on players wasn't in place.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models Image

Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.

Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge Image

As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.

Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator Image

How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.

Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising Image

The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.

Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality Image

This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.