K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup - January 2025 #3

Sports:

• Fitbit will pay a civil penalty of $12.25 million after it “knowingly failed to immediately report” a defect in its Ionic smartwatches that caused dozens of people to sustain burn injuries, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said Thursday. Fitbit to pay $12.25M penalty after not immediately reporting known defect in recalled Ionic smartwatch – Fox Business

NCAA

• A federal judge took Diego Pavia’s request for a limited preliminary injunction under advisement as the Vanderbilt quarterback seeks to play at least another season while his lawsuit against the NCAA plays out in court. Vandy QB Diego Pavia now waits as federal judge takes injunction request under advisement – AP
• The bitter battle between Florida State and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has had many twists and turns over the past year and now the ACC has asked the Supreme Court to intervene during FSU’s endeavor for a peaceful exit. ACC Requests Supreme Court Intervention in Lawsuit Against FSU – SI

MLB

• The former interpreter for MLB star Shohei Ohtani impersonated the Los Angeles Dodgers player numerous times to defraud him, according to federal prosecutors. Ex-Interpreter Impersonated Shohei Ohtani Dozens of Times on the Phone to Wire Millions from His Bank Account: Feds – People
• A New Jersey federal judge dismissed a suit brought against a minor league baseball team owner by a rival company over his alleged moves to undermine its position in financial negotiations with Major League Baseball, ruling that the owner had no duty to his rival during those talks. Judge Throws Out Minor League Owners’ Suit Against Rival – Law360

NBA

• A man convicted of defrauding both former NBA All-Star Dwight Howard and Howard’s former Houston Rockets teammate, Chandler Parsons, should be sentenced to 11.25-14 years in prison, federal prosecutors argued this week in the Southern District of New York. Dwight Howard’s WNBA Swindler Faces Lengthy Prison Sentence – Sportico

NFL

• The National Football League and New York Jets LLC settled a lawsuit brought against it by a designer accusing the organization of stealing a logo he created for the New York team. NFL Settles Copyright Suit With Designer Over New York Jets Logo – Bloomberg

Entertainment:

MUSIC

• Universal Music Group convinced a federal judge to toss copyright claims from a lawsuit accusing it of cheating Fred Durst, the frontman of the group Limp Bizkit, out of roughly $1 million in royalty payments. Limp Bizkit Suffers Setback In $200M UMG Royalties Lawsuit

FILM & TELEVISION

• Singer Chris Brown brought a $500 million defamation lawsuit in Los Angeles state court against Warner Brothers Discover and another producer of 2024 documentary Chris Brown: A History of Violence. Chris Brown sues Warner Bros. over claims of sex assault in documentary – Los Angeles Times
• A CA federal jury delivered M. Night Shyamalan from a real-life Hollywood nightmare when it cleared the director and others of stealing an independent filmmaker’s work for his Apple TV+ show Servant. M. Night Shyamalan Cleared of Copyright Charges in ‘Servant’ Trial
• Producers of the musical film The Deb urged a Los Angeles judge not to pause Rebel Wilson‘s embezzlement claims while the actress appeals another portion of the case, saying they need a resolution in order to sell the movie and recoup nearly $14 million for investors. ‘Not Just A Game’: Producers Fight Pause On ‘The Deb’ Suit – Law360

BOOKS

• A pair of novel-writing sisters sued romance fantasy author Rebecca Yarros, alleging she stole the basis, themes and material of her Empyrian series from a string of books they published on the storytelling website Wattpad. Wattpad Writers Accuse ‘Empyrian’ Author of Copying Their Novels

LAWSUITS OF THE RICH & FAMOUS

• Counsel for celebrity couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds told a NY federal judge that Justin Baldoni’s attorney has violated ethical rules with an “all-out media blitz” during their thorny litigation over the movie It Ends With Us. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds demand gag order in Justin Baldoni case
• Sean “Diddy” Combs filed a $50 million defamation suit in NY federal court accusing a grand jury witness, a lawyer and Nexstar Media Inc. of spreading falsities about nonexistent videos that purportedly depict the indicted hip-hop mogul sexually assaulting intoxicated celebrities and minors. Sean “Diddy” Combs Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Grand Jury Witness
• Texas attorney Tony Buzbee tore into rapper Jay-Z‘s request that Buzbee be sanctioned for filing a suit accusing Jay-Z and Diddy of raping a 13-year-old, arguing that Jay-Z is merely trying to intimidate the accuser and that if anyone should be sanctioned, it’s Jay-Z. Tony Buzbee Blasts Jay-Z’s Sanction Requests In New Filing From Sexual Assault Lawsuit
• The Los Angeles County DA announced that he’s declining to bring criminal charges against rock star Marilyn Manson, saying domestic violence allegations fall outside the statute of limitations and the office is unable to prove various women’s sexual assault claims beyond a reasonable doubt. Rocker Marilyn Manson won’t be charged after long investigation of sexual assault allegations | AP News
• The Hills reality TV show stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag are among the latest Palisades Fire victims to sue the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power alleging an empty local reservoir made it more difficult for first responders to put out the devastating blaze. Spencer Pratt, Heidi Montag Sue Los Angeles Over Water Supply Issues
• A Los Angeles judge has ordered arbitration in Vanderpump Rules alum Faith Stowers’ racism lawsuit against NBCUniversal Media and Bravo, saying the reality TV personality’s contracts clearly required such disputes to be handled outside of court. `Vanderpump Rules’ Production Company Lawsuit to be Decided by Arbitrator Instead of Jury – MyNewsLA.com