Case Studies in Sport Law

Case Studies in Sport Law, Second Edition, provides students with specific examples and perspectives of some of the most significant cases in sport law in an accessible tone that is free of legal jargon. The text is an ideal companion for non-law students who are seeking clarity and context for legal issues commonly encountered in sport management and sport law settings. The 87 cases provide real-life applications for students and scholars of sport management.

This updated second edition of Case Studies in Sport Law contains one new case study to provide a more contemporary example while maintaining the most significant precedent cases. The text is easily incorporated as a supplement to course studies, especially for its recommended companion text, Introduction to Sport Law, Second Edition. These two texts were designed with the other in mind, and the structures match each other in order of topics presented so that students can easily cross-reference the two to obtain the best understanding of sport law.

The 87 cases in Case Studies in Sport Law have been carefully curated by a team of experts in the field and represent many of the multifaceted aspects of sport law. Some of the areas covered in the text are school districts, colleges and universities, interscholastic and recreational programs, professional sport franchises, sporting goods manufacturers and trademarks, and governing bodies. This broad approach encourages students to understand the impact of legal issues on the sport industry, including many of the areas that students are hoping to pursue as a career.

Case Studies in Sport Law offers condensed versions of each case as opposed to the full legal proceedings, which enables students to grasp key concepts of the case instead of wading through legal jargon. The cases are divided into the main topics that are most prevalent in sport law courses: agency law, antitrust law, constitutional law, contract law, employment law, intellectual property, labor law, products liability, risk management, statutory law, Title IX, tort law, and the U.S. legal system. This is an easy-to-follow format that allows instructors and readers easy selection of cases based on the topic at hand. In addition to the abridged court cases, each section provides introductory information to prepare students on the type of law that will be examined and key concepts to bear in mind while reading. Further, each case study ends with review questions that can test student comprehension, be used for review, and prompt in-class discussions. Answers to these review questions are in the instructor guide, which is free to course adopters.

Litigation and lawsuits in sport are increasing; therefore, managers and operators must maintain a thorough understanding of legal practices. Case Studies in Sport Law is the ideal text to supplement a sport management or sport law class and bolster student comprehension of sport law issues, and it is a supreme reference in the professional library of all practitioners in college, high school, professional, and recreational sport settings.

Andrew T. Pittman, PhD, is a clinical associate professor in the HLKN department at Texas A&M University, where he is assistant director of the Sport Management Division. Pittman has authored two other books as well as numerous chapters in books and articles in refereed journals. He is a frequent presenter at conferences from the local to the international levels on topics related to sport law.

Pittman is a member of many organizations, including the Society of Health and Physical Educators (formerly AAHPERD), the National Sports Law Institute, the North American Society for Sport Management, the Sports Lawyers Association, and the Sport and Recreation Law Association.

John O. Spengler, JD, PhD, is a professor and director of the University of Florida's Sport Policy and Research Collaborative. Spengler received his bachelor's degree from Wake Forest University, his law degree from the University of Toledo, and his PhD from Indiana University. His research focuses on legal and policy issues relevant to sport and recreation, obesity prevention and physical activity, and structural environmental factors (social and physical) that influence health. Spengler's research has been funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to study policies relevant to improving opportunities for physical activity. He is a volunteer with the American Heart Association, where his research has informed AHA policy and advocacy efforts at the state and national level to improve community health through physical activity. 

Spengler's work has been published in numerous journals, books, and commissioned research papers and presented through webinars, panels, and professional presentations. He serves on the advisory board of the Aspen Institute's Project Play and Physical Literacy Working Group and has served as president of the Sport and Recreation Law Association, associate editor of the Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport, and a board member for SHAPE America. Honors include selection as a University of Florida Research Foundation professor in recognition of research and scholarly achievements and two-time UF College of Health and Human Performance Teacher of the Year. He also received the Fame for Fitness Award from the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his work on childhood obesity prevention, the University of Toledo School of Law Order of the Coif Jurisprudence Award, and SHAPE America's Distinguished Scholar award. He is a research fellow for both the SHAPE America Research Consortium and the Sport and Recreation Law Association.

Spengler resides in Gainesville, FL. He enjoys sports and outdoor activities.

Sarah J. Young, PhD, is an associate professor in the department of recreation, park, and tourism studies at Indiana University. She has more than a decade of experience in administering and programming campus intramural sport programs and teaches legal aspects courses to undergraduate and graduate students in sport and recreation. Young has published numerous articles and book chapters in sport and recreation publications and has given more than 50 presentations at professional conferences. She is a member of the Sport and Recreation Law Association, the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association, and the National Recreation and Park Association.