Ron Katz and the Retired Player Class Action Suit
June 15, 2009
Hosted by Jeff Nixon
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Guest Information
Episode Description
A 1972 graduate of the Harvard Law School & a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, Ron Katz first represented retired professional athletes when he won the first and only jury verdict against Major League Baseball in the late 1990's. He brought suit on behalf of a class of 2062 retired professional football players against their union, the NFLPA, in 2007 for using their likenesses without payment, particularly in the Electronic Arts Madden video games. In November, 2008, that class prevailed in a jury trial, winning $7.1 million in actual damages and $21 million in punitive damages. That case settled last week when the union agreed to pay $26.25 million to the class members.
Jeff Nixon Sports Report
Archives available on VoiceAmerica Sports Channel
Do you want the TRUTH? Can you handle the TRUTH? It’s time to put on your thinking cap and get the answers to all your questions about the NFL. The Jeff Nixon Sports Report will provide analysis of the Buffalo Bill’s games with in depth discussions with current players, retired players and fans regarding what the Buffalo Bills need to do to get back to the Superbowl…and this time win it! Jeff will examine other NFL teams and games. The show will focus on current events that affect both active and retired players including the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the NFL Disability and Pension Plans, active player conduct on and off the field, the use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs and other issues that affect active players, retired players and the NFL in general. The show will also highlight the positive things that both active and retired players are doing in their communities.
Jeff Nixon
Jeff Nixon graduated from the University of Richmond where he holds the career record for 23 interceptions at Richmond. He is a three-time All-America selection and was named First Team by five different organizations following his senior year. In 1989, Jeff was inducted into the University of Richmond Hall of Fame.
Jeff was a fourth round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills in 1979. He led the team with six interceptions his rookie season and was named to several all-rookie teams. In 1980 Jeff started the season in dramatic fashion by intercepting three passes against the Miami Dolphins which helped the Bills win the game and end the longest head-to-head team losing streak in NFL history. Jeff was Sports Illustrated's - Defensive Player of the Month in September of 1980. Jeff retired in 1985 and is now living in Buffalo, New York. He is married to recording artist Joyce Wilson-Nixon and together they have 5 children; Charles, Damien, Libran, Jena and Jeff. He is currently the Youth Service Director for the Buffalo Employment and Training Center where he provides jobs, career counseling, work readiness training and employment opportunities to low-income, underprivileged youth.
Jeff has been working on NFL retired player issues and moderates the blog "NFL Retired Players United". He also sits on the Board of Directors for two organizations that are also working on retired players issues: Fourth and Goal and the Retired Football Players Association.
