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

Sports:

• An Idaho transgender athlete asked the U.S. Supreme Court this week to drop a challenge against a state law that “bars transgender girls and women from playing on girls’ and women’s sports teams,” according to a filing by her attorneys. Transgender athlete drops challenge to Idaho women’s sports law – Fox News
• The Maine Principals’ Association is asking a federal judge to block a demand from the U.S. Department of Justice for rosters of all high school sports teams as part of the Trump administration’s lawsuit against the state over transgender athletes. DOJ wants rosters of Maine school sports teams as part of lawsuit over transgender athletes – Maine Public
• Starting next year, Florida high school athletes will need to undergo an additional medical test before they can compete: an electrocardiogram, or EKG. COULD SAVE A LIFE: New rule for every Florida high school athlete – Fox
• A college football player has sued the NCAA in North Carolina’s business court alleging the organization violated state antitrust laws by denying him a waiver to play during the current season, ignoring that it was a coach’s error that exhausted a year of his eligibility. NC Player Sues NCAA Over Eligibility Rule Enforcement – Law360

NBA

• A court fight between sports collectibles companies over a Stephen Curry rookie card allegedly sold at a fraudulently high price has been resolved, as the two sides jointly moved to dismiss the case Friday in Texas federal court after reaching a settlement last month. Collectible Companies Settle Fraudulent Steph Curry Card Suit – Law360
• As expected, the NBA has hired an outside law firm to investigate whether the Los Angeles Clippers circumvented the salary cap with a “no-show” endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard by one of the team’s sponsors. NBA hires law firm to handle investigation into Kawhi Leonard, Clippers endorsement deal – NBC Sports

Entertainment:

FILM & TELEVISION

• Newsmax sued Fox News in federal court, alleging Fox uses anticompetitive and exclusionary business practices to maintain its dominance over right-leaning television news. A federal judge has tossed it for now, saying Newsmax’s case is an impermissible “shotgun pleading.” Newsmax’s lawsuit against Fox hits a snag as judge dismisses it as ‘shotgun pleading’ | CNN Business
• Warner Bros. is alleging AI image generator Midjourney copies and distributes unauthorized reproductions of dozens of iconic characters, including Superman, Batman and Bugs Bunny, in a new copyright infringement lawsuit. Warner Bros. Discovery Sues Midjourney for Infringement In Major Legal Battle
• Attorneys for Merit Street Media, the bankrupt broadcasting group co-founded by Dr. Phil, told a TX bankruptcy judge it reached deals to drum up additional Chapter 11 funding and create recoveries for unsecured creditors. Dr. Phil’s $500M Trinity Broadcasting Fight Eyes Settlement; CEO Hauled Into Case
• A&E Television Networks escaped a copyright and trademark lawsuit from the network behind television psychic “Miss Cleo” after a district court said the suit was deficient. Should Have Seen That One Coming: Claims Over A&E’s “Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall” Dismissed – Reason.com
• A Manhattan federal judge granted Paramount Pictures’ request for certain documents held by Shaun Gray, a man suing the company claiming that he wrote some key scenes in Top Gun: Maverick without receiving any money or credit. Paramount Scores Some Docs In ‘Top Gun’ Copyright Suit – Law360

LAWSUITS OF THE RICH & FAMOUS

• A Los Angeles jury cleared rapper Cardi B of liability in an assault suit by a former security guard over a scuffle at a medical building. Cardi B wins lawsuit over alleged assault during pregnancy | AP News
• Music critic and YouTube personality Anthony Fantano successfully defended himself against claims of defamation by the singer for rock band Falling In Reverse, Ronnie Radke. Radke is challenging a request that he pay Fantano’s $40,700 in defense attorney fees, calling the amount unjustified and “grossly disproportionate” to the work that attorneys performed. The Needle Drop’s Anthony Fantano speaks out after winning defamation suit against Falling In Reverse’s Ronnie Radke
• A former Garden State mayor is asking a NJ state judge to dismiss a counterclaim from Whoopi Goldberg‘s cannabis company, WhoopFam NJ LLC, in a dispute over a failed effort to open a recreational marijuana retail store. Whoopi Goldberg in court over stalled New Jersey marijuana store
• The woman known as the “Ketamine Queen” of North Hollywood pled guilty in a Los Angeles federal courtroom to providing the ketamine that led to the 2023 death of Friends star Matthew Perry and is now scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 10. ‘Ketamine Queen’ pleads guilty in Matthew Perry overdose case
• Harper Lee‘s estate and a publishing company have settled their dispute over a To Kill a Mockingbird play adaptation the estate allegedly licensed without authority, wiping a more than $2.5 million arbitration fee appeal off the books the day before their scheduled arguments at the 7^th Harper Lee Estate, Publisher Settle ‘Mockingbird’ Play IP Case – Law360

MUSIC

• A CA federal judge largely refused to dismiss LyricFind‘s $1 billion suit accusing a streaming music lyrics rival of using an exclusive deal with Warner Music to edge it out of the market, crediting claims about the importance of Warner while nixing some business interference allegations. Lyrics Monopoly Lawsuit: Judge Refuses to Dismiss Antitrust Case
• A NY federal judge tossed trademark infringement claims lodged against the widow of punk rocker Johnny Ramone by the brother of his bandmate Joey Ramone, finding that the fight must be arbitrated under the band’s shareholder agreement. Hyman v. Cummings-Ramone, No. 1:2024cv05920 – Document 33 (E.D.N.Y. 2025) :: Justia