Menu
Leagues and Governing Bodies

Judge In ATP-Hamburg Case Orders Discovery Into How Bylaw Came Into Existence

A federal court judge yesterday ordered discovery into how an eight-year-old ATP Tour bylaw that requires members to pay legal fees if they lose a lawsuit against the circuit had come into existence; rejecting for now the tour’s motion it be awarded nearly $20M in legal fees. The ATP’s Hamburg stop in '07 sued the ATP because the circuit demoted the event. The event lost the case, and the tour moved to collect the legal fees based on the bylaw, which was passed shortly before the new tour structure was put in place. U.S. Districy Court Judge Gregory Sleet originally rejected the tour’s effort under the theory that a loser pays outcome would undermine parties bringing antitrust cases like the Hamburg lawsuit. An appeals court later sent the fee case back, ruling before the antitrust question could be reached, the court needed to first assess whether the bylaw was even valid. To do that, Sleet asked a state court of Delaware (where the ATP is incorporated) if the bylaw was permissible. The state court ruled earlier this year theoretically it could be, but the facts of the case would dictate either way. The ATP had asked the federal court to award legal fees based on the state court’s decision, while counsel for Hamburg, which is partially owned by the Qatar Tennis Federation, argued discovery, and possibly a trial was necessary. Hamburg is trying to prove the bylaw was created specifically to deter litigation tied to the calendar restructuring, though it is unclear if that by itself would negate the bylaw. The federal court set Oct. 29 as a deadline for the two sides to arrive at an agreed upon roadmap for discovery.

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/09/30/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/ATP.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/09/30/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/ATP.aspx

CLOSE