After years of fighting, arguments, lawsuits, and legislation, the battle over the use of the name Fighting Sioux may very well be coming to an end.  The members of the Spirit Lake and Standing Rock Sioux tribes filed suit against the NCAA seeking $10 million and a reversal of the NCAA’s policy banning the use of Native American images, likenesses, and names.  In turn, the NCAA filed a motion to dismiss stating the tribes lacked standing and their claims were unsupported by facts.  U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Erickson agreed with the NCAA and stated the tribes are not participants in the market allegedly restrained by the NCAA and, therefore, dismissed the tribes’ claims.

For any questions, feel free to contact Christian Dennie at cdennie@bgsfirm.com.