K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup - May 2025 #4

Sports:

• The former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. has pushed back against efforts to force him to hand over documents relating to his alleged sexual misconduct and hush money payments in a class action over the company’s merger with Ultimate Fighting Championship, telling the Delaware Chancery Court they are irrelevant to the shareholders’ suit. McMahon Tries To Limit Misconduct Docs In WWE Merger Suit – Law360

NBA

• A current employee of the Phoenix Suns sued the team in U.S. District Court in Arizona on Tuesday, citing allegations of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by ESPN. Suns being sued by an employee for fourth time in seven months – ESPN

MLB

• Former longtime Major League Baseball veteran Darin Ruf is suing the Cincinnati Reds for damages after he suffered a career-ending injury while crashing into an uncovered tarp roller at Great American Ball Park in 2023, according to a lawsuit filed in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Places. Longtime MLB Veteran Sues Reds After Suffering Career-Ending Injury at Great American Ball Park – Newsweek
• A settlement providing restitution to baseball fans who sued the Washington Nationals for age discrimination in a ticket promotion targeting millennials and young professionals has been given preliminary approval by a D.C. federal judge. Settlement In Nationals’ Ticket Bias Suit Gets Preliminary OK – Law360

NFL

• A Garden State man seriously injured in 2022 after his car was run off the road by a car driven by NFL cornerback Brandin Echols has told a New Jersey state court he is willing to settle a lawsuit against the former New York Jets player for $8 million, according to a court filing. NJ Man Seeks $8M To Settle Suit Against Ex-Jets Player – Law360
• More than 250 people were arrested — including a former NFL linebacker — earlier this month in a multiagency undercover operation to combat human trafficking, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced. Ex-NFL linebacker among 255 arrested in Polk human-trafficking sting – Orlando Sentinel

Entertainment:

MUSIC

• Hip-hop duo Salt-N-Pepa sued UMG in NY federal court, saying the music company refused to return the copyrights for several of their hits, including “Push It” and “Let’s Talk About Sex,” and for punishing their attempt to assert their rights by removing songs from streaming platforms and distribution channels. Salt-N-Pepa Sue Universal Music Group for Rights to Master Recordings | Pitchfork
• The Beastie Boys are settling their copyright suit against the restaurant company that owns Chili’s, over the chain’s use of clips from the song “Sabotage” and imitations of scenes from the trio’s iconic music video. Beastie Boys Reach Settlement with Chili’s over Unauthorized ‘Sabotage’ Ad Use
• A CA federal magistrate judge has largely granted a company’s request for documents related to its copyright infringement suit against Ye, his entities, UMG Recordings Inc. and Universal Music Corp. over two tracks in Ye’s August 2021 Donda Ye Must Answer Discovery Requests In ‘Donda’ IP Suit – Law360

FILM & TELEVISION

• The developer behind the video game Fortnite violated federal labor law by not negotiating with SAG-AFTRA before using artificial intelligence to voice Darth Vader, the union alleged in an unfair labor practice charge, claiming the company’s AI use takes away work from bargaining unit members. Labor dispute erupts over AI-voiced Darth Vader in Fortnite – Ars Technica
• The founder of a leadership organization focused on women of color alleged in CA federal court that Tyler Perry‘s fictional Netflix comedy series She the People about a Black female politician infringes her registered trademark. TRADEMARK NEWS: ‘She The People’… | VitalLaw.com
• A writer and director is appealing Apple Inc. and director Night Shyamalan’s win over her claim the AppleTV series Servant infringed her 2013 movie. Writer Appeals Apple’s Win in ‘Servant’ TV Series Copyright Suit

LAWSUITS OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS

• A man who says author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates copied his work without permission lost his case at the U.S. Supreme Court after a majority of the justices recused themselves from the dispute. Five Supreme Court Justices Sit Out Case in Rare Move – Newsweek