Alleged use of names in promotion material: NFL Films face former players in court – NFL News
All seems clear and set now for proceeding of a case by former National Football League (NFL) players against the NFL Films over alleged unauthorised use of their names in the league’s promotion materials.
A federal US judge has asked both the parties to get ready to face each other in the court from December 15, 2012.
It is yet again that the case has been scheduled for a new date, as it has already been pushed back to later dates on a number of occasions.
With the latest ruling from the federal judge, it looks more realistic now that the case will proceed regularly from the stipulated date this year.
The US Magistrate Judge, Arthur Boylan, of Minneapolis, has set Wednesday for hearing of any pending pre-trial motions to pave the way for hearing of the case.
The US District Judge, Paul Magnuson, is slated to hear the case when it comes before the court on the new date. The case is in pending since filing of the class-action lawsuit by some former NFL players in 2009.
It has been pushed back to a number of dates on few occasions, but now all seems to be set and ready for its regular taking up by the court.
Dan Pastorini, Joe Senser, Elvin Bethea, Ed White, Jim Marshall and Fred Dryer are the players to have been named as affected parties in the lawsuit.
The players said that their names have been illegally used by the NFL Films in the promotional material, including films and other forms.
NFL Films have denied all those allegations saying that the names of the players were used within the provisions of their deals with the league, and dually permitted by the terms of the deals.
Both parties have been waiting for the proceeding of the case since 2009, which has repeatedly been delayed and postponed due to certain reasons.
The players are now more hopeful about the case’s progress.
It is pertinent to mention that the league’s main office is facing a number of lawsuits over its controversial concussion policies, filed in different US courts by the former players, their family members and relatives.
All those lawsuits have alleged the NFL of negligence, mishandling and ignorance towards concussions to the players when they were active on rosters.
They have been seeking compensation of the sufferings they and their family members have been through due to what they said ‘controversial policies on concussion injuries’.
NFL has denied all these charges saying that the players’ protection has always been a priority and no comprise has ever been made on their security and safety.
At the same, it has requested the court to consolidate all the lawsuits before a single judge. The rule in its plea is awaited.
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