After two days of court ordered mediation, the NFL and the players will break from the negotiating table until June 7. Yesterday, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision granted the league’s motion to make the temporary stay of the lockout permanent until a full appeal on the matter is decided.
That hearing is scheduled to begin on June 3 before the same panel that issued yesterday’s decision.
Both sides are also waiting on a ruling from U.S. District Court Judge David Doty regarding the amount of damages the NFL should pay to the players.
The players say that the league illegally secured the “war chest” of $4 billion by renegotiating TV deals for the 2011 season. Doty ruled on March 1 that the NFL violated the collective bargaining agreement.
The damages number in the television case according to NFLPA attorney Tom Heiden should be at least $707 million.
Judge Doty took arguments under advisement but has not issued a decision. Regardless of how Doty rules, an appeal to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals is likely.
