Court Sides with Player in Case Against Cleveland Browns

Sept. 14, 2011 - PRLog -- Cleveland, OH- September 14, 2011- The latest Sports Litigation Alert reports how an Ohio state appeals court has affirmed a lower court’s ruling that professional football player’s, LeCharles Bentley, fraud and negligent misrepresentation claim against the Cleveland Browns does not intrude upon the legal territory of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which would have required the player to pursue his claim first through arbitration.

In the spring of 2006, Bentley signed a six-year National Football League Player's contract with the Cleveland Browns, and shortly thereafter, he tore his left knee patellar tendon. He had surgery the following day to repair the injury. Post surgery Bentley began a post-operative regime at the Cleveland Browns training facility. On August 22, 2006, he was unable to walk; his knee swelled, and he experienced flu-like symptoms. The Cleveland Browns immediately advised Bentley to get his blood tested. Bentley was subsequently diagnosed with a staph infection, and he had multiple surgeries designed to eradicate the infection.

On July 22, 2010, Bentley filed a complaint against the Cleveland Browns asserting causes of action for fraud and negligent misrepresentation. He specifically alleged that he contracted a staph infection at the Cleveland Browns' training facility.

The most recent issue of Sports Litigation Alert also includes the following summaries;
•   Community College District Properly Categorized Coach before Firing Him
•   Court Dismisses Football Player’s Conspiracy Claim
•   Panel Affirms that School District, Employees Acted Appropriately in Cheerleader Case
•   Federal Court Sides with EA in Lawsuit Brought by Former Student Athletes

Articles Include:
   Miami’s Dealings with Al Golden Provide Lessons for Negotiating Coaching Contracts
   Kean University Athletic Director Sues after Being Fired for NCAA Violations
   With Lockout in Full Effect, NBA Players Still Have Options
   As Part of Settlement, Notre Dame Spreads Aerial Lift Safety Awareness, Other Schools Take It to Heart
   Appenzeller Addresses Ethical Behavior in Sport

Coming out 24 times a year, the Alert features a searchable archive of more than 1000 case summaries and articles pertinent to the sports law field.

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The Alert, through Hackney Publications (www.hackneypublications.com), is a member of the National Sports Law Institute and the Sports and Recreation Law Association (http://srlaweb.org/).
About Hackney Publications

Hackney Publications (www.hackneypublications.com) delivers valuable and important information about the legal side of the sports industry. Its overriding mission, through its publications, is to maintain a narrow editorial focus on issues that matter to its subscribers. In addition to Sports Litigation Alert, the company publishes Legal Issues in Collegiate Athletics, Legal Issues in High School Athletics, Professional Sports and the Law and The Journal of NCAA Compliance.

Hackney Publications, which is a member of the National Sports Law Institute and the Sports and Recreation Law Association (http://srlaweb.org/), was founded by journalist Holt Hackney, who has spent more than 20 years writing about sports, business and the law.