Suit: ‘Fatally Flawed’ Buyout Pact and Bad Advice from King & Spalding Cost Thrashers Owner $194M

A “fatally flawed” buyout agreement drafted by King & Spalding for the majority owner of the Atlanta Thrashers hockey team cost $194 million in lost franchise value, operating costs and legal defense expenses, contends a Georgia lawsuit (PDF). The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported on the suit, which was filed today…

Jan 21, 2011 11:20 PM CST

MTV Changes Racy Content in New Show ‘Skins’ Because It Feared a Criminal Violation

MTV executives have ordered changes in a new show called Skins because of fears that some explicit scenes could violate child pornography laws. MTV execs were particularly concerned about an episode airing Jan. 31 that originally showed a naked 17-year-old actor from behind as he ran down the street, the…

Jan 20, 2011 12:38 PM CST

Arent Fox Sends Report on BCS Exclusions to US Justice Department

Is the Bowl Championship Series unfairly excluding teams that don’t play in the right conferences in violation of the antitrust laws? A report by Arent Fox forwarded to the Justice Department this past week contends the answer is yes, reports Washington Post sports columnist Sally Jenkins. According to Jenkins, the…

Jan 12, 2011 12:56 PM CST

2nd Circuit Tosses FCC Fine for Female Nudity on ‘NYPD Blue’

ABC television stations won’t have to pay a combined $1.21 million penalty for broadcasting an NYPD Blue episode with a shot of a female character’s nude buttocks. A New York-based federal appeals court ruled (PDF) on Tuesday that the nudity policy created by the Federal Communications Commission is unconstitutionally vague,…

Jan 5, 2011 5:15 PM CST

New Accusers Sue Favre & Jets, Alleging Team Didn’t Address Known Sexual Harassment

Reportedly irked by what they saw as a slap-on-the-wrist $50,000 fine imposed on former New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre concerning allegations that he sexually harassed sideline team reporter Jenn Sterger and sent her an explicit photo, two more women have stepped up to the plate. In a lawsuit filed…

Jan 4, 2011 1:06 AM CST

Virtual Worlds, Real Battles: Trademark Holders Take on Use in Games

Jan 1, 2011 7:20 AM CST

Favre Fined $50K for Resisting Sext Probe, But Didn’t Violate NFL Personal Conduct Policy

Accused of sending racy text messages to a former sideline reporter for the New York Jets when he was the team’s quarterback, Brett Favre has been fined $50,000 by the National Football League for not cooperating with its investigation of the matter. But the famous player, who is now with…

Dec 29, 2010 6:37 PM CST

‘Teen Mom’ in Reality TV Show is Charged With Battering Ex-Fiance

Shown slapping and punching her former fiance in front of their daughter on a September episode of the Teen Mom reality television show on MTV, a young woman is now facing criminal charges in Indiana. Amber Portwood was arrested today in Madison County on three counts of battery and one…

Dec 28, 2010 9:09 PM CST

Dead at 54, ‘Ivory Queen of Soul’ is Also Known for Recording Contract Law Clarification

A rare success on the rhythm and blues charts as a white woman singing for Motown Records, Teena Marie died yesterday at her California home, apparently of natural causes. She was 54 years old. In addition to popular and critically acclaimed songs such as Square Biz, released in 1981, and…

Dec 28, 2010 3:02 PM CST

Rulings Likely Spur a Drop in Errant Golf Ball Suits, But Legal Disputes Remain

Courts are making it more difficult to sue over errant golf shots, but that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of lawsuits that arise from the sport. More states are requiring either intentional or gross and reckless negligence for lawsuits over injuries caused by bad golf shots, the New York Times…

Dec 23, 2010 4:11 PM CST

Blinded Golfer Loses Appeal; NY’s Top Court Says He Assumed the Risk

New York’s highest court has ruled on behalf of a golfer accused of failing to yell “fore” before hitting a ball that struck and blinded his friend in one eye. The New York Court of Appeals ruled that the friend, Dr. Azad Anand, had assumed the risk of injury, according…

Dec 21, 2010 5:44 PM CST

Prosecutors Charge High School Athlete with Sexual Assault for Wrestling Move

A high school athlete in California goes on trial next month on charges of sexual assault stemming from an allegedly invasive version of a wrestling move known as the “butt drag.” Prosecutors claim Preston Hill of Clovis, Calif., 17, used the wrestling move during practice as a way to retaliate…

Dec 21, 2010 2:53 PM CST

Seahawks Fan Sues Shaun Ellis of Jets Over Stadium Snowball Toss

A Seattle Seahawks fan and season ticket holder has sued Shaun Ellis of the Jets, alleging physical injury, humiliation, mental distress, pain and wage loss as a result of allegedly being hit with a large snowball on his home team’s turf. A YouTube video linked to the TMZ report of…

Dec 20, 2010 5:48 PM CST

5th Circuit Nixes $21M Katrina Pact, Worried That Legal Fees and Other Costs Could ‘Cannibalize’ It

A federal district court judge erred by approving a $21 million settlement of Hurricane Katrina damage claims, a federal appeals court ruled yesterday, because attorney’s fees and administrative costs could “cannibalize” most or all of the money. Absent a showing that the more than 500,000 residents and businesses concerned will…

Dec 17, 2010 4:27 PM CST

Bar Trip to Cuba Leads to Cubs ‘Caribbean Classic’ Talks

A Chicago Bar Association-sponsored trip to Cuba staged so Chicago judges and lawyers could learn more about the Cuban legal system could lead to some baseball diplomacy. Chicago and Cuban officials are discussing a “Caribbean classic” baseball series with the Chicago Cubs, according to Crain’s Chicago Business (sub. req.). Illinois…

Dec 15, 2010 3:44 PM CST