The ongoing class action trial in Los Angeles, involving the NFL and its Sunday Ticket service, has captured significant attention. The lawsuit, brought by bars, restaurants, and individual subscribers, accuses the league of illegally inflating the cost of NFL Sunday Ticket and mandating the purchase of all available games, instead of allowing smaller packages. Legal experts suggest the NFL faces an uphill battle.
Constangy senior counsel Chris Deubert recently spoke to Front Office Sports on the NFL's defense and the intricacies of the its profit-sharing model. The NFL and its teams share revenue from broadcast and streaming equally, which the league says contributes significantly to its success. "But that doesn’t mean that it’s acceptable under antitrust law," Chris adds.
The trial started last week and could continue for several weeks before a decision is made. Read the full article on Front Office Sports here.
Chris is an accomplished attorney with over thirteen years of experience in labor, employment, and sports law. He advises employers on a wide range of labor and employment issues, including discrimination complaints, wage and hour claims, class actions, employment agreements, and internal investigations. Chris has extensive experience in the sports industry, representing teams, associations, agents, and universities in various regulatory matters. Chris previously served as General Counsel for D.C. United of Major League Soccer, where he handled litigation, contracts, sponsorships, stadium operations, sports betting, and more. He also oversaw Human Resources, implementing comprehensive employment policies and best practices. Chris has also represented NFL players, agents, and other sports professionals in litigation, league matters, and disputes.