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

Sports:

• A former staffer accusing World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. and two of its former executives, including former CEO Vince McMahon, of assault and sex trafficking defended her bid to add more detail to her complaint, arguing Friday that her ex-employers seek to “take a red pencil” to unflattering truths. WWE Can’t Take ‘Red Pencil’ To Assault Suit, Ex-Staffer Says – Law360
• Twenty-three years after representing Team Canada, former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding was added to the FBI’s list of its 10 most wanted fugitives. Ex-Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding among FBI’s 10 most wanted for alleged role in deadly drug ring – The Athletic
• The Fourth Circuit will hear arguments on May 9 as to whether NASCAR should be extricated from an injunction forcing it to offer charter contracts to two teams — including one co-owned by former NBA star Michael Jordan — that have accused the league of antitrust violations. 4th Circ. Set To Consider NASCAR Antitrust Injunction In May – Law360

NCAA

• Florida State and Clemson voted to agree on settling their four ongoing lawsuits against the ACC and a new revenue-distribution strategy Tuesday, CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello has confirmed. The ACC Board of Directors also approved the measure earlier in the day, bringing litigation between the conference and two of its most prominent member institutions to an end. ACC settles Florida State, Clemson lawsuits: Revised revenue distribution, lowered exit fees among key details – CBS Sports
• A former University of Delaware rowing coach has taken Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co. to federal court in North Carolina, alleging the insurer wrongfully cut off her long-term disability benefits after more than a decade of payments. Ex-Delaware Rowing Coach Sues Reliance Standard in Insurance Dispute – USA Herald

GOLF

• PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Tiger Woods conveyed unmistakable optimism at Torrey Pines in mid-February, generating conviction throughout the golf world that an upcoming White House summit—bringing together Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and President Donald Trump—would deliver the long-awaited formal announcement. Yet two weeks after that high-stakes meeting, with the sport poised to converge on PGA Tour headquarters for the tour’s flagship event, any semblance of an agreement appears to have evaporated. ‘A stupid game of chicken’: Inside the PGA Tour/Saudi PIF negotiation breakdown and the state of a potential deal – Golf Digest

Entertainment:

FILM & TELEVISION

• A movie executive told a CA federal jury that she never shared a distant family member’s script with The Walt Disney Co., and that she later felt “set up” and pressured to lie for this relative’s copyright suit over the blockbuster animated film Moana. ‘Moana’ director scoffs at plagiarism claims at copyright infringement trial | Courthouse News Service Meanwhile, counsel for Disney urged the judge to enter judgment in their favor as the trial came to an end, saying the artist has theories but no actual evidence that his work was stolen for the film. Disney Slams Paltry Evidence As ‘Moana’ IP Trial Nears End – Law360
• A 37-year-old TN man who worked at a DVD and Blu-ray manufacturing and distribution company used by major studios has been charged with stealing and selling copies of blockbuster movies before their release and with leaking Spiderman: No Way Home online, the DOJ announced. Feds arrest man for sharing DVD rip of Spider-Man movie with millions online – Ars Technica

MUSIC

• LyricFind slapped Musixmatch SpA with a $1 billion antitrust lawsuit in CA federal court, calling the rival a monopolist in the market for providing lyrics to digital services companies like Spotify and saying Musixmatch inked a deal with Warner Chappell Music Inc. that essentially pushes LyricFind and others out of the market. LyricFind sues Musixmatch over alleged antitrust violations – Music Business Worldwide
• Nelly’s childhood friend failed to properly serve Universal Music Group and other corporations when he sued him, requiring their dismissal from his copyright infringement suit, a district court ruled. Jones et al v. Universal Music Group et al, No. 1:2024cv07098 – Document 58 (S.D.N.Y. 2025) :: Justia
• Structured Asset Sales LLC asked SCOTUS to review the 2^nd Circuit’s opinion that Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” did not rip off Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On,” arguing that the lower appellate court incorrectly affirmed that the Copyright Act of 1909 only protected the Motown song’s sheet music. Justices Asked To Audit Ed Sheeran’s ‘Thinking Out Loud’ Win – Law360

LAWSUITS OF THE RICH & FAMOUS

• Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter lodged defamation claims against his Jane Doe accuser and her attorney Tony Buzbee over a “false,” “malicious” and “strategically and tactically calculated and timed” rape suit that has since been dropped, this time in AL federal court. Jay-Z Sues Former Accuser and Lawyer Over Sexual Assault Allegations
• Manhattan federal prosecutors filed a new indictment in the sex trafficking and racketeering case against Sean “Diddy” Combs, revealing new details about the hip-hop mogul’s alleged practices of forcing his employees to work long hours, while subjecting them to physical and psychological harm. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces new allegations of forced labor in superseding indictment – ABC News
• The New York Times urged a NY federal court to toss defamation claims made by Justin Baldoni over the news organization’s coverage of the It Ends With Us actor-director’s legal battle with Blake Lively over the actress’s sexual harassment complaints, saying it is legally protected reporting and opinion made without malice. New York Times Asks Court to Dismiss Justin Baldoni’s Lawsuit
• Creative Artists Agency, Disney and a Miramax entity told a NY appeals court that actress Julia Ormond‘s case against them over an alleged Harvey Weinstein assault should have been dismissed, with former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch arguing for the talent agency that the complaint doesn’t lay out a tort. CAA, Disney Not Enmeshed In Weinstein Claim, NY Court Told – Law360