ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA LITIGATION: FORMER UCLA BASKETBALL PLAYER REEVES NELSON SUES SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR DEFAMATION
LAWSUIT TARGETS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY PULITZER PRIZE WINNING AUTHOR
Former UCLA men's basketball player, Reeves Nelson, has filed a lawsuit for defamation against Sports Illustrated resulting from SI's March 2012 article entitled, Special Report: Not The UCLA Way. The scathing article, written by Pulitzer Prize winning author George Dohrmann (more on him later), portrayed the UCLA men's basketball team as dysfunctional and out of control, placing much of the blame on Nelson's conduct. The revelations added salt to the open wound of a UCLA hoops season that saw the Bruins finish in the middle of a weak Pacific 12 conference and miss the NCAA tournament for the second time in three seasons.
Those who know me know that I am a rabid UCLA sports fan, particularly as to the UCLA men's basketball team. I have had season tickets for over 20 years, follow the team in road games around the country and am a donor to UCLA Athletics. I am in all sense of the word a UCLA basketball "booster."
During the 2011-12 season, UCLA men's basketball fell far short of expectations -- suffering embarrassing losses to "lesser" basketball programs, losing by double digits to top teams and failing to earn a postseason bid which most of us consider to be UCLA's birthright. Plus, UCLA fans had to endure the indignity of having to attend most "home" games at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, an arena which cross-town rival USC abandoned years ago, while the Bruins' home arena, Pauley Pavilion, underwent major renovations. Beaten on the court and essentially homeless, the UCLA basketball team then had to face SI's blistering and embarrassing accusations just days before one of the worst seasons in UCLA basketball history was about to end.
Unlike most subjects on this blog, the SI "expose" and Nelson's alleged conduct within the team detailed in that article was (and is) intensely personal. Nevertheless, as an attorney with substantial experience in defending the media as well as representing plaintiffs in defamation claims, I could not pass on the opportunity to comment on Nelson's defamation lawsuit. After the jump, you can read Nelson's complaint, and evidence he submits at the outset of his lawsuit, as well as my views on his claims.
Adam "MCA" Rauch co-founded the "Beastie Boys" hip hop group with Michael "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "Adrock" Horovitz. Together the trio enjoyed tremendous success, selling over 40 million records, having our #1 albums and being inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year. MCA was too ill with cancer to attend that induction ceremony. On May 4, 2012, MCA lost his battle and died at his New York home.
With the arrival of new star players Chris Paul and deAndre Jordan, coinciding with the continued rise of mega-star Blake Griffin, the once hapless Los Angeles Clippers have a new identity ("Lob City") and a rekindled fan base. Once the laughingstock of all sports franchises, the Clips find themselves leading the Pacific Division of the NBA's Western Conference as of the date of this post (a half game over the Los Angeles Lakers), playing an exciting brand of basketball that's the talk of the League. In fact, Clipper fans have boldly declared that their beloved team is now THE team of Los Angeles.
Before her appearance at the Super Bowl festivities this weekend, singer/songwriter Madonna was locked in a battle over the trademark "Material Girl" with a clothing manufacturer who has been manufacturing clothing under that name for almost 15 years. In 2010, Madonna's company and retailer Macy's began to sell a line of clothing under the "Material Girl" name. The clothing manufacturer sued Madonna and others. 
DC Comics, publisher of the original Batman comic strip, filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer and seller of vehicle modification kits that allow a consumer to create his or her own "Batmobile." The original Batmobile (pictured on the right) was an integral part of the 1960s television series based upon the DC comic books. "Gotham Garage" sold kits allowing consumers to build and own a replica of the iconic Batmobile. DC Comics sued, alleging that the replicas infringe upon their copyright to the Batmobile.
By now, you've seen the image. In June 2011, the Vancouver Canucks lost game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals to the Boston Bruins in Vancouver. Chaos ensued, and Vancouver burned. Sports fans rioting in disappointment over losing a championship (or in celebration of winning one) is hardly unusual. However, as the people of Vancouver rioted in the streets, a picture captured a couple in a private, intimate moment against a backdrop of smoke and police in riot gear. The photographer and the media reporting on the Vancouver riot did not know their names. They were simply the kissing couple.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals filed an opinion today reversing a multi-million dollar verdict and injunction in favor of Mattel, maker of Barbie dolls, against upstart competitor MGA Entertainment which makes the Bratz doll line. The case has garnered much attention as two highly popular doll lines and their manufacturers battled each other in federal court in Los Angeles. Chief Judge Alex Kozinski's entertaining opinion today likely will have far reaching consequences beyond toymakers -- affecting copyright infringement, trademark infringement and constructive trust litigation. 
