Spielman was a lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit filed against Ohio State and IMG in July '17getty images
Ohio State and former LB Chris Spielman have "reached a $140,000 settlement regarding the university's use of the athlete's name and image," according to Jennifer Smola of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. According to the settlement, OSU "agrees to pay Spielman the lump sum of $140,000 as compensation for his alleged damages, but the parties agreed that the payment is not an admission of liability" by OSU. In return, Spielman "agrees to release Ohio State from any liability or further claims in the state Court of Claims case or the federal civil case." The settlement states that the agreement "does not have any effect or bearing on Spielman's claims" against IMG College, the talent management company "involved with 64 banners that were hung in Ohio Stadium featuring players' likenesses and a corporate logo for Honda." Spielman was a "lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit filed against Ohio State and IMG" in July '17, alleging that his and other athletes' images were "used without permission or compensation." A joint statement said that Spielman will be "donating the money from the settlement to the William White Family Fund for ALS and the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at Ohio State" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 12/1).
