Employment Law

Protection for Play: Student-Athletes and the Renewed Fight for Workers’ Compensation Benefits

June 23, 2022

The National Collegiate Athlete Association (“NCAA”) has a longstanding history of denying employment-related benefits to student-athletes.  Student-athletes have never been able to claim employment status at the university they attend. Accordingly, injured student-athletes have traditionally been unable to make a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.  The theory and rationale behind denying student-athletes employment status at the university they attended is based on the idea of [...]

Flag on the Play: NCAA v. Alston changes the face of Name, Image, and Likeness Rules for thousands of student-athletes

October 31, 2021

In September of 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that would allow California’s collegiate athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness beginning in 2023.  The bill was passed in direct opposition to the NCAA regulations that prohibit ‘amateur’ athletes from receiving personal sponsorships and endorsements while they are collegiate athletes.  While debates over name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation existed prior to the passage of the California bill, [...]

Four World Cup Titles and the Bottom Line: A Look into the U.S. Women’s National Team’s Fight for Equal Pay

February 5, 2021

During the 2019 Women’s World Cup, the United States Women’s National Team defeated the Netherlands to secure their second consecutive World Cup title and fourth overall. However, the team had a much bigger score to settle behind the scenes, that of unequal pay, with their employers, the United States Soccer Federation. As of December 2020, the Women’s National Team reached a settlement with USSF regarding their claim of unequal working conditions. Currently, the team still plans to appeal concerning their equal pay claims. [...]

Racial Injustice – Will the NFL Fight to Change Itself?

January 22, 2021

As our country focuses on racial injustices throughout the United States, virtually no part of society is immune to racial inequality, including the NFL. Roger Goodell, commissioner of the NFL, released a statement in the wake of the many tragedies that have occurred around the United States and insisted that the NFL “was committed to continuing the important work to address these systemic issues.” Before the NFL can do anything in the community, they must address systemic issues in their own league. [...]

Workers’ Compensation Laws Shift to Meet the Nuanced Needs of the COVID-19 Era

November 13, 2020

As North Carolina continues to reopen, many employers are left wondering the extent of their liability for employees contracting COVID-19.  The debate on the matter has ranged from desperate pleas of employees to hold employers liable for unsafe work environments, to demands for civil immunity by businesses and healthcare workers.  Senator Mitch McConnell has gone so far as to state that the current legal atmosphere is primed to incite “the biggest trial lawyer bonanza in history.” State [...]