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BROWN v. PRO FOOTBALL, INC. Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: NFL owners collectively imposed a fixed salary for certain players after bargaining with the union reached an impasse. The Supreme Court held this action was protected by the nonstatutory labor exemption, shielding the owners from antitrust liability to preserve the collective bargaining process.
Legal Significance: Expands the nonstatutory labor exemption to protect post-impasse, unilateral conduct by multiemployer bargaining units. The decision prioritizes the stability of the collective bargaining process, governed by labor law, over the application of antitrust rules to employer agreements on mandatory bargaining subjects.
BROWN v. PRO FOOTBALL, INC. Law School Study Guide
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Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
In 1987, the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the National Football League (NFL), a multiemployer bargaining unit, and the NFL Players Association (the union) expired. During subsequent negotiations, the NFL proposed creating “developmental squads” and offered a fixed weekly salary of $1,000 for all players on these squads. The union disagreed, insisting on individual salary negotiations for these players. In June 1989, negotiations over this specific issue reached a good-faith impasse. The NFL then unilaterally implemented its proposal, distributing a uniform contract with the $1,000 weekly salary to its member clubs and threatening disciplinary action for any club that deviated from this amount. A group of 235 developmental squad players filed suit, alleging that the owners’ agreement to fix their salaries constituted a price-fixing conspiracy in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The NFL asserted that its conduct was shielded from antitrust liability by the nonstatutory labor exemption.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Does the nonstatutory labor exemption to antitrust laws shield a multiemployer bargaining unit’s concerted, unilateral implementation of its last wage offer after collective bargaining negotiations with the players’ union have reached a good-faith impasse?
Yes. The Court held that the nonstatutory labor exemption applies to the Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit
IRAC Legal Analysis
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IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Does the nonstatutory labor exemption to antitrust laws shield a multiemployer bargaining unit’s concerted, unilateral implementation of its last wage offer after collective bargaining negotiations with the players’ union have reached a good-faith impasse?
Conclusion
This decision significantly strengthens the position of multiemployer bargaining groups by immunizing Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit
Legal Rule
The nonstatutory labor exemption shields from antitrust attack a multiemployer bargaining unit's Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fu
Legal Analysis
The Court reasoned that the nonstatutory labor exemption is an implicit exemption Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labo
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- The nonstatutory labor exemption protects multiemployer groups from antitrust suits for