Federal judge grants injunction in Tennessee lawsuit against the NCAA which freezes NIL rules

A federal judge in Tennessee granted a preliminary injunction, suspending NCAA rules regarding name, image and likeness benefits for athletes and indirectly easing the stress for University of Tennessee amid an NCAA investigation.

It’s a victory for the attorneys general in Tennessee and Virginia in their lawsuit against the NCAA and, potentially, for Tennessee in its fierce fight with the NCAA over NIL rules.

The injunction was granted in the Eastern Tennessee District by Judge Clifton Corker, who found that NIL rules caused irreparable damage to athletes.

The states argued that NIL rules must be suspended immediately because recruits are losing leverage without the ability to negotiate their fair market value in the NIL space and that Tennessee’s reputation is stained by the NCAA’s unfair investigation focused on NIL rules enforcement.

“For the reasons provided herein, Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction is granted,” the decision said. “It is hereby ordered that, effective immediately, Defendant NCAA; its servants, agents, and employees; and all persons in active conce11 or participation with the NCAA, are restrained and enjoined from enforcing the NCAA Interim NIL Policy, the NCAA Bylaws, or any other authority to the extent such authority prohibits student-athletes from negotiating compensation for NIL with any third-party entity, including but not limited to boosters or a collective of boosters, until a full and final decision on the merits in the instant action.

“It is further ordered that, effective immediately, the NCAA is restrained and enjoined from enforcing the Rule of Restitution as applied to the foregoing NIL activities until a full and final decision on the merits in the instant action.”

The decision could have a seismic impact on college sports, as the NCAA’s rules banning NIL recruiting…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/federal-judge-grants-injunction-tennessee-211300919.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2024-02-23 21:13:00

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