K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup - November 2025 #2

Sports:

NCAA

• The NCAA on Friday declared six former Division I men’s basketball players permanently ineligible after investigations found they tried to fix games and provided information to gamblers about how they would manipulate performances and outcomes. NCAA bans 6 ex-college basketball players from 3 schools for betting violations – The Athletic
• A recent member of Penn State‘s governing body sued the university and its top board leadership Thursday, claiming he was subjected to defamation and civil rights violations for exercising his right to free speech and requesting financial information. Ex-Penn State trustee alleges defamation in suit against university, board leadership – Centre Daily Times

MLB

• Two Major League Baseball pitchers allegedly conspired with sports bettors to rig pitches they threw so the bettors would profit from illegal wagers, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn and the FBI announced in an indictment on Sunday. ‘Betrayed America’s pastime’: MLB pitchers indicted in alleged sports gambling scheme – ABC News

NBA

• A former finance executive with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks has been hit with federal wire fraud charges for allegedly embezzling more than $3.8 million from the team by using its American Express cards for personal expenses and doctoring expense reports to cover his tracks. Ex-ATL Hawks Exec Charged With Stealing $3.8M From Team – Law360
• Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones entered not guilty pleas Thursday in two cases alleging his involvement in illegal gambling rings. Damon Jones pleads not guilty in alleged gambling scheme cases – CBS

NFL

• An Indiana-based regional bank told a federal court that its insurer wrongly denied coverage for a roughly $5.3 million loan it issued to an individual impersonating Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku, claiming a loss of more than $2.4 million. Bank Seeks $2.4M From Insurer Over NFL Player Loan Forgery – Law360

Entertainment:

MUSIC

• Spotify has allegedly allowed billions of fraudulent streams from bots, particularly of Drake‘s music, to boost its advertising revenue while inflating royalty payments for some artists at the expense of others, according to a proposed class action filed in CA federal court. Spotify sued over alleged fraudulent Drake streams
• The former manager of rock band Guns N’ Roses filed a lawsuit in AZ federal court accusing it of trying to stop the release of his autobiography and intimidating his publisher into withholding its release, resulting in lost sales and cancellation of advanced orders of his book. Ex-Guns N’ Roses Manager Sues Band Over Blocking His Memoir
• A CA appellate court has revived The Walt Disney Company’s anti-SLAPP motion against a lawsuit claiming the entertainment giant fraudulently banned the Village People from performing at Disney Venues, saying Disney’s musical act selection is conduct protected by the First Amendment. Disney Can Try Another SLAPP At Village People’s $20M Suit – Law360

FILM & TELEVISION

• Netflix and a Brazilian production company were sued by a CA filmmaker who claimed he showed them his material about the late Brazilian Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna in confidence and his work was misappropriated in the making of a Netflix series about the legendary race car driver. Netflix Formula 1 Senna Series Sparks Lawsuit Over Alleged Idea Theft – USA Herald
• Warner Bros. failed in its effort to buy derivative rights assets from bankrupt “Matrix” studio Village Roadshow after a judge signed off on a sale to Alcon Media Group instead. ‘Matrix,’ ‘Practical Magic,’ ‘Ocean’s’ Sequels: Warner Bros. Forced Into Deal
• Paramount Skydance Corp. illegally disclosed to Google and Microsoft the personally identifiable information of children who viewed streaming content on their families’ personal electronic devices, the kids’ parents have claimed in a proposed class action in CA federal court. Paramount Hit With Privacy Class Action Over Children’s Data – Law360
• Road House screenwriter David Lee Henry agreed to drop his appeal over the denial of his bid to strike Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.’s breach of contract counterclaims in a copyright dispute. ‘Road House’ Writer Abandons Appeal to Toss MGM Counterclaim

LAWSUITS OF THE RICH & FAMOUS

• Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen settled his suit against the Four Seasons, just before the parties were about to open a trial on Allen’s negligent security claims against the hotel company over a violent attack just outside the Four Seasons hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Def Leppard Drummer Settles Suit Over Hotel Attack – Law360
• A video company and rapper Ice Cube failed to pay a crew member who worked briefly on one of the rapper’s music videos, a lawsuit in CA state court claims. Ice Cube, Co. Didn’t Pay For Video Shoot Work, Suit Claims – Law360