Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLCScarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Firm Insights

Will D.J. Fluker, Luther Davis Controversy Have Wider Implications for Sports Agent Laws in Certain States?

Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC

Date: September 18, 2013

Key Contacts

Back

In the aftermath of an exclusive Yahoo! Sports report, which implicates five Southeastern Conference football stars in NCAA rule violations, the details of the case may have a broader impact on sports agent laws.

The Yahoo investigation suggests that five players violated NCAA rules by receiving extra benefits prior to completing their collegiate careers. These players accused of receiving the illegal benefits are Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker, Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray, Tennessee defensive end Maurice Couch, Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox and Mississippi State receiver Chad Bumphis. According to information retrieved by texts and emails, former Alabama football player Luther Davis is accused of providing these benefits to the players as a middleman for sports agents. The report was able to authenticate Western Union fund transfers, banking statements, flight receipts, and other financial materials.

In certain states the transactions may carry wide implications on state sports agents laws. For instance, the Yahoo report confirmed multiple transactions that connect Alabama football player D.J. Fluker to Davis, agents, and financial advisers. If these transactions are verified, all of the aforementioned parties are guilty of the Alabama’s sports agent laws, which require that all agents be licensed by the Alabama Athlete Agents Commission.

Those who operate in an unlicensed capacity are committing a Class C felony, which is punishable by one to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000, All Alabama notes. In addition, initiating contact with a college athlete without being registered is a class A misdemeanor, meaning the perpetrators may face up to one year in prison and a fine up to $2,000.

In addition to the legal complications the report – if verified – could cause in Alabama, it could also raise additional problems for Tennessee and Mississippi State, which are on probation until the summer of 2015 for previous rules violations relating to their respective football programs.

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
What Every Real Estate Investor Should Know Before Buying a Rental Property post image

What Every Real Estate Investor Should Know Before Buying a Rental Property

Before buying a New Jersey rental property, an investor should verify realistic operating numbers, the property’s legal and regulatory status, lead-based paint and flood compliance, the existing leases and tenant protections, and the right ownership structure. A rental property is more than a piece of real estate; it is an operating business subject to legal, […]

Author: Donald M. Pepe

Link to post with title - "What Every Real Estate Investor Should Know Before Buying a Rental Property"
Can You Change an Irrevocable Trust in New Jersey? post image

Can You Change an Irrevocable Trust in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, an irrevocable trust can sometimes be modified even though its name suggests otherwise, and one of the primary tools for doing so is a process called decanting. Whether decanting is available depends on the specific terms of the trust and the discretion given to the trustee. Key takeaways: New Jersey has no […]

Author: Marc J. Comer

Link to post with title - "Can You Change an Irrevocable Trust in New Jersey?"
How Intellectual Property Valuation Will Impact Business Transactions post image

How Intellectual Property Valuation Will Impact Business Transactions

Intellectual property valuation determines the monetary value of a business’s IP assets, and it drives outcomes in licensing deals, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, financing, and ownership disputes. The most valuable assets of a business are often the things that cannot be seen or touched: a proprietary process, a copyrighted work, brand recognition, or the […]

Author: Jay McDaniel

Link to post with title - "How Intellectual Property Valuation Will Impact Business Transactions"
Data Center, Dark Fiber, and Lit Services Agreements in New Jersey: Key Terms and Legal Pitfalls post image

Data Center, Dark Fiber, and Lit Services Agreements in New Jersey: Key Terms and Legal Pitfalls

For New Jersey data center owners and operators, a service agreement may look routine when it is signed. The network is functioning, the vendor is meeting its installation schedule, and the parties have agreed on pricing and performance specifications. The provisions that seem most important at that stage are often the technical ones. That changes […]

Author: George McGowan

Link to post with title - "Data Center, Dark Fiber, and Lit Services Agreements in New Jersey: Key Terms and Legal Pitfalls"
Fort Monmouth Redevelopment and the Transformation of Monmouth County Real Estate post image

Fort Monmouth Redevelopment and the Transformation of Monmouth County Real Estate

The Fort Monmouth redevelopment has entered its execution phase, and it is repositioning the broader Monmouth County real estate market. When Netflix and the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority closed on the 292-acre Mega Parcel in December 2025, the transaction did more than hand over a deed. It marked the moment Fort Monmouth stopped being […]

Author: Donald M. Pepe

Link to post with title - "Fort Monmouth Redevelopment and the Transformation of Monmouth County Real Estate"
Local Zoning and Land Use Rules Every New Jersey Rental Property Owner Should Understand post image

Local Zoning and Land Use Rules Every New Jersey Rental Property Owner Should Understand

Owning a residential rental property in New Jersey involves more than finding tenants and collecting rent. Property owners must comply with a combination of state laws, municipal ordinances, building and housing codes, and zoning and land use regulations. These requirements can affect everything from the number of dwelling units permitted at a property to whether […]

Author: Donald M. Pepe

Link to post with title - "Local Zoning and Land Use Rules Every New Jersey Rental Property Owner Should Understand"

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. By providing a telephone number and submitting this form you are consenting to be contacted by SMS text message. Message & data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. You can reply STOP to opt-out of further messaging.
“If you would like to submit a file, please email it directly to info@sh-law.com.

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