Lamar Jackson and Tiger Woods

Lamar Jackson, the reigning NFL MVP, recently filed suit against Amazon.com and Amazon.com Services Inc. in Florida federal court.  According to the lawsuit, the Amazon defendants have falsely advertised and endorsed unlicensed and infringing clothing that utilized Jackson’s name, nicknames, images and persona.  The infringing items displayed “Lamarvelous,” Action Jackson,” and “Not Bad for a Running Back” – all slogans one might associate with Lamar Jackson.

Jackson claims that the infringing items are shipped and sold directly by Amazon.com (as opposed to a third-party seller), which has no connection with Jackson and bypasses those manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers that have obtained the required licenses. Jackson has asserted claims under Florida’s statutory and common law rights of publicity, false advertising and endorsement under the Lanham Act, and under Florida’s deceptive and unfair practices act.

The case was filed in the Southern District of Florida (case no. 20-CV-60627-RKA).

In an entirely different type of lawsuit, Tiger Woods and his caddie were sued by a spectator at the Valspar Golf Tournament in Florida.  In that case, the spectator alleges that he was pushed by Woods’ caddie after he tried to take a selfie of himself with Tiger in the background. The lawsuit, which can be found here, alleges negligence and battery on behalf of the caddie, and negligence and respondeat superior by Woods.