The ongoing labor dispute between NFL owners and the NFL Players Association is set to move to a federal court in Minnesota tomorrow. Experts however, maintain that the players will emerge victorious and the court would give the leverage to the players, helping a quicker return to the business of football.
“Both sides have compelling arguments,” said Andrew Brandt, an attorney to AJC. “The [players] do have [legal] precedent on their side from the same court in Minnesota from 20 years ago. On the owners’ side, they make a compelling argument that the standard of proof for lifting the lockout — irreparable harm — has not been met.”
It is expected that Judge Susan Nelson may rule on the NFLPA’s motion for an injunction and it will pave the way for the return of players to the field. On March 11, the NFLPA decertified itself as a union. The NFL responded by locking out the players. “We’re going to have a very good idea of who has the upper hand in the negotiations,” said David Scupp, an antitrust attorney with Constantine Cannon of New York. “If the players win this preliminary injunction and it’s upheld on appeal, we are going to have a season. If the players lose, they will be under a tremendous amount of financial pressure to reach a deal with the league to end the lockout and start getting their paychecks.”
Nelson was appointed by President Barack Obama and it is highly unlikely that she would try to establish new law. Though the NFLPA has a strike fund that pays $65,000 per player, the owners have too much money with them.
