Mediation ongoing in NFL Referee Dispute

Last weekend's failed negotiations between NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and locked-out NFLRA game officials could not have been more evident than in Monday Night Football's botched calls. The ongoing labor dispute between owners and officials may have given refs more leverage than anticipated due to fan and commentator outrage, not to mention the football players. A league memo by general counsel told the officials' union and a federal mediator who joined talks Sunday that it is prepared to make reasonable compromises on economic issues in exchange for operational changes the league believes will improve the quality of officiating. However, the biggest economic sticking point is a traditional pension plan for existing officials, which the league wants to eliminate and replace with a 401(k) plan. The memo said the officials’ most recent offer includes a make-up bonus for lost wages from the lockout and a reduction in disciplinary authority over officials. See http://nyti.ms/UsWGIf and listen http://www.npr.org/2012/09/25/161729675/calls-grow-for-nfl-to-settle-dispute-with-refs

NBA looking for NFL-type resolution in same Court

In apparent forum shopping, the NBA players refiled their federal antitrust lawsuit in Minnesota, seeking a settlement conference following the very same pattern of the NFL lockout. In the judge-directed mediation conducted by Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan over several sessions with the NFL, full litigation was avoided and football season was saved. Billy Hunter is now telling NBA fans not to give up and to put pressure on the players and owners, though there has been no contact between the parties since talks broke off upon the NBA players' union dissolving. My earlier entry reported on the impasse that resulted from mediator George Cohen's efforts. See story here: http://nyp.st/tyOiK2

"It ain't over till it's over"

The NFL lockout lawsuit spawned a claim by retirees which wasn't quite resolved in the bigger deal between the league owners and players.

During a case management conference, Judge Nelson quickly suggested talks with Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan, who brokered the original agreement that ended the lockout but did not settle the retirees' still-pending lawsuit.

Judge-directed settlement talks have been a theme of the recent negotiations in this litigation. In motivating the claimants to settle, she hinted that the case would be difficult likening it to "pushing a rock up a hill."

However, rather than ordering mediation, she told the three sides to sit down with Boylan for informal talks. Subsequently, lawyers for all sides said the discussions produced no agreement or date for additional mediation.

Perhaps a formal order of referral to mediation would have made them take things more seriously? The next scheduled hearing is not until September 15th.


See more at: http://bit.ly/r49vZa

Retired NFL Players Seek Inclusion In Mediation

The unusual goal of a newly filed complaint is to have Judge Nelson, under whose orders the existing lawsuit's mediated negotiations are being held, instruct the mediator, the league and the current players to allow representatives of the retired players to be active participants in the negotiations.

The latest class-action complaint is aimed against the teams, the league, the players named in the Brady v. N.F.L. lawsuit and DeMaurice Smith, the head of the N.F.L. Players Association. It asserts that the sides are violating antitrust laws by negotiating settlement terms that improperly encompassed the rights of retired players in the time since the N.F.L.P.A. renounced its union status. Namely, it alleges the are conspiring to depress the amounts of pension and disability benefits to be paid.

Apparently, lawyers for the present players e-mailed to attorneys for retired players stating they would negotiate issues like the salary cap and free-agency rules, while lawyers for retired players would be allowed to suggest retired-player issues in connection with proposals before the mediator, Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan.

Certainly, these developments will impact the pending NFL suits and may even influence the NBA litigation.

See report at: http://nyti.ms/iRsNxn

Potential for Mediation in NBA dispute - will it go any better than NFL?

The professional basketball players' union filed a complaint with the federal government’s National Labor Relations Board accusing the league of bargaining in bad faith. Typically, a ruling can take 30-60 days. NBA owners are accused of “circus bargaining” or never substantively changing offers during negotiations.

In football, NFLPA elected to de-certify so that its players are no longer part of a union and thus the NFL has no right to carry on a lockout without violating anti-trust laws. That case is in the hands of the Eighth Circuit. That appellate court may rule that the players’ de-certification is little more than a bargaining tactic.

No mediation has been set in the NBA matter. However, in the NFL case, the district judge-directed mediation by a federal magistrate judge came with many marathon conferences, but did not yield a settlement. The parties are currently supposedly engaged in direct talks, perhaps signaling that process was not thought to be as productive. Certainly, the NBA will be watching the NFL and only fans stand to lose.

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2011-06-29/labor-expert-outlines-legal-issues-around-lockout

NFL and Players reach impasse for now

It seems the parties, and mainly the league, are humoring the Magistrate Judge Boylan by merely participating in the court-ordered mediation process, while really holding out for potential leverage in negotiations potentially to be gained by a ruling forthcoming from oral arguments next week. This is a typical tactic seen in "bet the company" type litigation. Surely, an appeals court ruling can change the tide (and likely the season) and will provide either a stimulus for continued talks or the outright victory for one side. However, the lawsuit is still pending before U.S. District Judge Nelson, and the legality of the lockout has essentially become the fight for now, with both sides arguing over whether Judge Nelson has jurisdiction in the case, and over irreparable harm.

http://bit.ly/jYTxhn

http://bit.ly/ko5oCP

Additionally, the league was granted an extension to respond to the players' briefs in the "Tom Brady vs. NFL" antitrust lawsuit. The response was originally due this week, but will instead be pushed to June 6th.

The new date is noteworthy because it is three days after the appellate argument mentioned above, to determine if the lockout should be lifted.

The NFL's brief was filed on May 9, with the players' coming in last Friday. The NFL now has two weeks to craft a response.

http://bit.ly/jlnxoD