The five sports leagues involved in the Supreme Court sports betting case have won a follow-up lawsuit that sought millions of dollars in damages.
Late Friday, United States District Judge Michael A. Shipp denied a claim filed in May by the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NJTHA) -- a group associated with the Monmouth Park racetrack and casino -- asking "for judgment on $3.4 million injunction bond plus interest and damages."
The New Jersey-based group had filed the renewed claim against the NFL, NCAA, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball within weeks of the Supreme Court's May 14 decision that opened the door for states to authorize sports betting nationwide.
Judge Shipp -- the same judge who initially handled the lawsuit that later landed at the Supreme Court -- had previously issued an injunction preventing NJTHA and Monmouth Park from offering sports betting. NJTHA claimed to have suffered more than $10 million of damages during the time the temporary restraining order was put into place in 2014.
"The Court ... finds NJTHA was not wrongfully enjoined," wrote Judge Shipp in a just-released nine-page ruling obtained by ESPN. "The Court, accordingly, finds good cause exists to deny NJTHA damages under the injunction bond."
With the courtroom win, the NFL, NCAA, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball avoid a ruling that would have allowed other bookmakers to claw-back money allegedly lost during the time between when the five leagues sued to enforce the federal law banning single-game wagering outside of Nevada, and the date the Supreme Court declared the ban to be unconstitutional.
Monmouth Park and the NJTHA could potentially appeal Judge Shipp's ruling in the coming weeks. The group had previously claimed "that the Leagues acted in bad faith by wrongfully blocking the NJTHA from operating a sports betting venue at Monmouth Park." Neither current New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy nor former Governor Chris Christie were part of the case. Field Yates and Tim Hasselbeck react to Estadio Azteca's poor field conditions ahead of the Rams-Chiefs showdown on Monday Night Football. (1:53)
As grounds crews appear to be laying new sod on the field at Estadio Azteca on Tuesday, a number of Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams players are strongly considering not playing in next Monday's game in Mexico City and instead want it moved to Los Angeles, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
"It's not fair to risk our health," a prominent player told Schefter on Tuesday.
Significant discussions are underway about whether the game will be played in Mexico City, moved to Los Angeles or postponed, sources told Schefter, and that a decision is expected by the NFL in the coming days.
The issue is that soccer games and concerts have left the field inside Estadio Azteca a mess. Both teams have their own people evaluating the field, sources told Schefter, and the NFLPA is concerned and has been monitoring it closely.
Sources told Schefter that some players are skeptical the playing surface can be repaired enough in the next six days, and that they want the game moved to Los Angeles and played this week.
Both the Rams and the Chiefs have a bye week in Week 12, but many players already have scheduled plans for Thanksgiving.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy on Monday night said the league is "working closely" with stadium personnel "to ensure that we have an NFL-quality surface" for the game.
One source still expects the game will be played in Mexico City, according to Schefter, but another source said he thinks moving the game to Los Angeles is still an option.
The Rams left for Colorado Springs on Monday to train at high altitude for a week before traveling to Mexico City, where the elevation is about 7,300 feet.
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25267843/new-sod-being-installed-kansas-city-chiefs-los-angeles-rams-game-mexico-city