Federal Judge Grants Injunction Ending Lockout; NFL Seeks Stay, Plans Expedited Appeal
Apparently swayed by the players’ argument that their careers are being irreparably harmed by a National Football League lockout, a federal judge in Minnesota today granted an injunction putting them back to work that was sought as part of an antitrust suit being pursued by the players.
However, the NFL is seeking a stay of the order while it pursues an expedited appeal of U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson’s ruling in the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, reports the Associated Press.
The New York Times and the Pioneer Press also have stories.
There’s no word on how the ruling may or may not affect the situation of New York Giants owner John Mara, who earlier this month unsuccessfully sought to avoid alternate jury duty on the theory that he might be needed in negotiations.
At last report, though, it appeared that Mara was not only on the actual panel, having replaced one of the jurors, but was serving as foreman in a federal drug trial in Manhattan, according to USA Today.
“The pressure is overwhelming, but I’m sure you’ll bear up,” U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff told Mara.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “As Potential NFL Lockout Looms, Players Association Decertifies and Seeks Injunction”
ABAJournal.com: “Cleveland Browns Fan Sues NFL over Lockout; Experts Give Suit Little Chance”
