Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLCScarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Firm Insights

For Athletes, Workers' Compensation Depends on Location

Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC

Date: November 3, 2015

Key Contacts

Back

Can a professional athlete file a workers’ compensation claim?

Well, it depends on where he or she plays.

Dangerous jobs can lead to disability and as a result, prohibit an individual from being able to carry out the work he or she was previously paid for, hence workers’ compensation. Some of the more dangerous jobs around can be found in various professional sports leagues, where players are injured all of the time – sometimes permanently. Depending on where these individuals play, they may be able to file for workers’ compensation should they be seriously injured.

Why their location matters

For example, in California a law bars most professional athletes from filing for workers’ compensation after a now-expired Sept. 15 deadline. The law, passed in 2014, prompted thousands of athletes to file their own claims before the deadline – a move which could end up costing numerous professional leagues “hundreds of millions of dollars,” according to the Los Angeles Times. This group of athletes includes legends like former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino and storied Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon. Previously, California law allowed athletes who had played road games in the state to file claims – now, after the deadline this is no longer the case.

However, in other states, professional athletes’ workers’ compensation rights are different. The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board Employers’ Handbook, for instance, outlines Empire State-based athletes’ rights when injured. The handbook states that athletic leagues, teams and businesses are all required to carry workers’ compensation insurance policies if they have individuals working in the state of New York. The handbook goes on to list specific positions such as athletes, scouts, and recruiters.

For more information on whether you qualify for workers’ compensation following an injury contact a sports law attorney.

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Related Posts

See all
Crypto Enforcement: A Former Prosecutor’s Warning to Criminals and the Public post image

Crypto Enforcement: A Former Prosecutor’s Warning to Criminals and the Public

Cryptocurrency intimidates most people. The reason is straightforward. People fear what they do not understand. When confusion sets in, the common reaction is either to ignore the subject entirely or to mistrust it. For years, that is exactly how most of the public and even many in law enforcement treated cryptocurrency. However, such apprehension changed […]

Author: Bryce S. Robins

Link to post with title - "Crypto Enforcement: A Former Prosecutor’s Warning to Criminals and the Public"
Understanding Chattel Paper: A Key Component in Secured Transactions post image

Understanding Chattel Paper: A Key Component in Secured Transactions

Using chattel paper to obtain a security interest in personal property is a powerful tool. It can ensure lenders have a legal claim on collateral ranging from inventory to intellectual property. To reduce risk and protect your legal rights, businesses and lenders should understand the legal framework. This framework governs the creation, sale, and enforcement […]

Author: Dan Brecher

Link to post with title - "Understanding Chattel Paper: A Key Component in Secured Transactions"
Crypto Compliance: A Comprehensive Guide post image

Crypto Compliance: A Comprehensive Guide

For years, digital assets operated in a legal gray area, a frontier where innovation outpaced the reach of regulators and law enforcement. In this early “Wild West” phase of finance, crypto startups thrived under minimal oversight. That era, however, is coming to an end. The importance of crypto compliance has become paramount as cryptocurrency has […]

Author: Bryce S. Robins

Link to post with title - "Crypto Compliance: A Comprehensive Guide"
Supreme Court and Title VII: Implications for Reverse Discrimination post image

Supreme Court and Title VII: Implications for Reverse Discrimination

Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services vitiating the so-called “background circumstances” test required by half of federal circuit courts.1 The background circumstances test required majority group plaintiffs pleading discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to meet a heightened pleading standard […]

Author: Matthew F. Mimnaugh

Link to post with title - "Supreme Court and Title VII: Implications for Reverse Discrimination"
SPACs Are Back, What You Need to Know post image

SPACs Are Back, What You Need to Know

Special purpose acquisition companies (better known as SPACs) appear to be making a comeback. SPAC offerings for 2025 have already nearly surpassed last year’s totals, with additional transactions in the pipeline. SPACs last experienced a boom between 2020–2021, with approximately 600 U.S. companies raising a record $163 billion in 2021. Notable companies that went public […]

Author: Dan Brecher

Link to post with title - "SPACs Are Back, What You Need to Know"
Short Form Merger: Streamlining the Process for Businesses post image

Short Form Merger: Streamlining the Process for Businesses

Merging two companies is a complex legal and business transaction. A short form merger, in which an acquiring company merges with a subsidiary corporation, offers a more streamlined process that involves important corporate governance considerations. A short form merger, in which an acquiring company merges with a subsidiary corporation, offers a more streamlined process. However, […]

Author: Dan Brecher

Link to post with title - "Short Form Merger: Streamlining the Process for Businesses"

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!

Explore What Matters Most to You.

Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.

Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.

Let`s get in touch!

* The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.

Sign up to get the latest from the Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC attorneys!