Case Studies

NCAA Antitrust Litigation

graphic of east coast of US map, NCAA colleges called out

Venue: NDCA;
Court Name: US District Court, Northern District of CA;
Experience: Antitrust, Hospitality, Sports, & Entertainment, Mass Tort & Class Action

Our Role

A class of student athletes alleged that the defendants (the National Collegiate Athletic Association and eleven of its member conferences), violated federal antitrust law by conspiring to impose an artificial ceiling on the scholarships and benefits that student-athletes may receive as payment. IMS Consulting & Expert Services worked with trial counsel to develop demonstratives for experts addressing economic issues and NCAA conference rules.

Case Results

U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken rejected the NCAA’s arguments that all its compensation rules promote the demand for college sports and justify its antitrust violations.

“The court finds and concludes that the defendants agreed to and did restrain trade in the relevant market, and that the challenged limits on student-athlete compensation produced significant anticompetitive effects,” the order says.