Gelston
11-09-2013, 12:32 PM
A federal judge on Friday partially certified a lawsuit filed by more than 20 players, allowing football and basketball players in major programs to challenge as a group NCAA rules prohibiting compensation beyond the value of their athletic scholarships, but also denying their pursuit of billions of dollars in past revenues.
In her long-awaited, 24-page report, U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken carved a pathway for fundamental change in the economic model of college sports in a ruling that will help college athletes in their arguments to receive a share of television and other media revenues.
The ruling also minimized the prospect of forcing the NCAA to pay billions of dollars in past damages to players who may have been wronged under anti-trust law. Players can still sue for damages, but only as individuals.
The mixed ruling left both sides claiming victory in statements sent to ESPN.
"The court's decision is a victory for all current and former student-athletes who are seeking compensation on a going forward basis," said Michael Hausfeld, lead attorney for the players. "While we are disappointed that the court did not permit the athletes to seek past damages as a group, we are nevertheless hopeful that the court's decision will cause the NCAA to reconsider its business practices."
The NCAA addressed only the side of the judge's decision it favors. The governing body for college sports had been accused by the plaintiffs of working with member institutions to fix at the price of zero the amount of Division I basketball players and Football Bowl Subdivision players could receive as players.
http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/9949204/players-seek-future-revenue-ncaa-pursue-damages
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About time I think. The kids can't work and earn money to the same degree as other college students (in fact, they aren't allowed to work over so many hours a week).
In her long-awaited, 24-page report, U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken carved a pathway for fundamental change in the economic model of college sports in a ruling that will help college athletes in their arguments to receive a share of television and other media revenues.
The ruling also minimized the prospect of forcing the NCAA to pay billions of dollars in past damages to players who may have been wronged under anti-trust law. Players can still sue for damages, but only as individuals.
The mixed ruling left both sides claiming victory in statements sent to ESPN.
"The court's decision is a victory for all current and former student-athletes who are seeking compensation on a going forward basis," said Michael Hausfeld, lead attorney for the players. "While we are disappointed that the court did not permit the athletes to seek past damages as a group, we are nevertheless hopeful that the court's decision will cause the NCAA to reconsider its business practices."
The NCAA addressed only the side of the judge's decision it favors. The governing body for college sports had been accused by the plaintiffs of working with member institutions to fix at the price of zero the amount of Division I basketball players and Football Bowl Subdivision players could receive as players.
http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/9949204/players-seek-future-revenue-ncaa-pursue-damages
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About time I think. The kids can't work and earn money to the same degree as other college students (in fact, they aren't allowed to work over so many hours a week).