Judge Dismisses Student Athlete's Claims; Jeffrey Kessler Calls NCAA Settlement Anti-Competitive

A Pennsylvania federal judge dismissed a former student athlete's claims against Buchanan Ingersoll and McNees Wallace regarding their representation of an athletic association in a challenge over his eligibility to play postseason high school sports. Meanwhile, attorney Jeffrey Kessler is seeking a preliminary injunction to allow two teams to compete in 2025 under a new charter agreement amid ongoing litigation. Kessler stated, 'There has never been a case I have found that is as egregiously anti-competitive as this one.' The teams are also seeking treble damages for anti-competitive terms. In a related development, the NCAA's effort to get approval for a legal settlement in athlete-compensation cases is facing opposition from Michael Hausfeld, the lawyer who led the Ed O'Bannon case. Hausfeld's clients include three current college athletes, two former college athletes, and two current high school athletes. Documents supporting this opposition include a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker and the NCAA Board of Governors from governors of South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, urging a restructuring of the multi-billion-dollar settlement due to its impact on schools in their states.