Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · 19d

Some additional background on the lawsuit from when it was filed: www.on3.com/nil/news/lsu...

LSU's Last-Tear Poa files lawsuit against U.S. Immigration Services

LSU basketball's Last-Tear Poa has filed a lawsuit in the Middle District of Louisiana against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

www.on3.com

1

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · 19d

Importantly, the court did NOT answer this question, merely finding instead that it needs a full post-discovery administrative record to make a ruling here.

But this ruling keeps alive a lawsuit that will clearly have major, major impact on college sports.

1 2

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · 19d

Poa argued that the manner by which courts are asked by USCIS to interpret "temporarily and solely" is contradictory: permitting dual roles as "student-athletes" for F-1 visas while precluding it for P-1A visas. She argued that's arbitrary and capricious under the APA.

1 1

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · 19d

So Poa applied for a P-1A visa. She was denied on the basis that P-1A visaholders must be coming to to the US "solely for the purpose of [playing sports]." USCIS regulations hold that student-athletes come for education, not "solely for the purpose of [playing sports]."

2 2

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · 19d

The lawsuit is over a post-NIL gap that exists between F-1 (student) and P-1A ("internationally recognized athletes") visas.

Student-athletes have traditionally gotten F-1 visas, but F-1 regulations place significant limitations on holders' abilities to make money in the US.

1 1 2

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · 19d

Interesting news this morning concerning international college athletes: A Louisiana federal court has **denied** a USCIS motion to dismiss Arizona State basketball player Last-Tear Poa's lawsuit against the agency over the agency denying her petition for a P-1A visa. 🧵

1 2 4

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Sep 3

Just updated the "key dates this month" section of the College Sports Litigation Tracker... it's going to be a big month in the college sports law world!

1 5

Reposted by Sam C. Ehrlich

Teresa Walker 👑 @teresamwalker.bsky.social · Sep 3

Handful of college athletes sue NCAA over redshirt rule in case that could cover thousands apnews.com/article/ncaa...

Handful of college athletes sue NCAA over redshirt rule in case that could cover thousands

Vanderbilt linebacker Langston Patterson and former Hawaii quarterback Brayden Schager are among 10 plaintiffs suing the NCAA over its redshirt rule that puts restrictions on the five years the athlet...

apnews.com

3 2

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Aug 30

a dalmatian mascot is riding on the back of a horse on a football field

ALT: a dalmatian mascot is riding on the back of a horse on a football field

media.tenor.com

2

Reposted by Sam C. Ehrlich

Jake Kocorowski @jakekoco.bsky.social · Aug 27

Had a fantastic time chatting with the one and only @samcehrlich.com about two legal cases involving Badgers football. Check out what he had to say about Nyzier Fourqurean's battle with the NCAA, along with Wisconsin vs. Miami.

Breaking down Wisconsin football legal cases with Sam C. Ehrlich

One of the up-and-coming voices in the nation regarding college sports litigation talks about Nyzier Fourqurean's eligibility case and Wisconsin vs. Miami

www.badgerobserver.com

1 1

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Aug 25

The start of a new semester...

three men in armor are standing next to each other with the words and so it begins below them

ALT: three men in armor are standing next to each other with the words and so it begins below them

media.tenor.com

1

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Aug 12

The Sixth Circuit has set oral arguments in the NCAA's appeal of the Diego Pavia lawsuit for October 23.

Unlike the other eligibility rule appeals (Fourqurean/Elad/Braham), this appeal won't affect Pavia's 2025 playing status. But it'll certainly affect others' moving forward.

1

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Aug 12

Here's the full amicus brief: drive.google.com/file/d/1vR0K...

7-1.pdf

drive.google.com

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Aug 12

This is a rather significant turn of events, as the first time a state attorney general has weighed in on one of these cases. Though, of course, this particular office has gone after the NCAA in the recent past as a chief litigant in the Ohio lawsuit over transfer rules.

1 1 1

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Aug 12

The West Virginia attorney general's office has filed a motion to weigh in on the eligibility lawsuit involving four would-be WVU transfers, supporting the athletes' argument that the challenged eligibility rules violate the Sherman Antitrust Act.

1

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Aug 12

They could use you!! 😁

1

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Aug 11

SFA states they lack enough athletes to field teams and reinstating them would cost $1 million. They take issue with the court's contention that their budget woes are self-inflicted by their choice to opt into the House settlement.

1

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Aug 11

These motions are always kind of funny to me because they're essentially "Hey, we know you ruled this way, but you're wrong and you're going to get overturned on appeal so can we get a stay until that happens?"

1

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Aug 11

The Texas AG's office is seeking a stay of the preliminary injunction forcing them to reinstate Stephen F. Austin's women’s beach volleyball, bowling, and golf teams while they appeal the decision to the Fifth Circuit.

I'd imagine it's unlikely this gets granted, but we'll see.

1

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Aug 4

The complaint is an intriguing read. It goes deeper into developing antitrust theories than others have, outlining "pride of place" (arguing the rules to attend NCAA schools over JUCOs) and essential facilities theories. (We'll see if that matters) drive.google.com/file/d/1ugqM...

Jimori Robinson v. NCAA - Complaint (8-4-2025).pdf

drive.google.com

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Aug 4

Of note, this case is filed in the Northern District of West Virginia -- the same court that held the transfer portal "year-in-residence" rule to violate antitrust law. No word yet on whether the same judge (Judge John P. Bailey) will been assigned.

1

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Aug 4

We have eligibility rule lawsuit #30. This one involves multiple athlete-plaintiffs, all seeking to play football this fall for West Virginia after transferring there this spring.

The plaintiffs are Jimmori Robinson, Jeffrey Weimer, Tye Edwards, and Justin Harrington.

2 1 3

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Aug 3

Putting my life savings on a Pitt natty this year

Brian Floyd @brianmfloyd.bsky.social · Aug 3

checking in on pitt’s camp

1

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Aug 2

Finally got a chance to dig into the SFA Title IX opinion from last night and this note on the balance of hardships preliminary injunction element... seems impactful.

Since I'm fairly sure SFA won't be the only one to cut sports citing increased costs due to the House settlement.

1 1 3

Sam C. Ehrlich @samcehrlich.com · Jul 31

(Judge Boulware last year rejected a class action settlement of an antitrust case against the UFC, finding that the damages were not high enough to properly compensate the fighter-plaintiffs) www.espn.com/mma/story/_/...

Judge denies $335M UFC antitrust settlement

U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware denied a preliminary approval for settlement in the UFC antitrust lawsuit Tuesday.

www.espn.com