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Hockey

Mike Danton’s Lovely Life

Does anything work in favor of former NHL player, Mike Danton?  He went to jail for plotting to kill his former agent, David Frost.  Frost was not only his agent, but took Danton as a part of his family after Danton disowned his own kin.  Danton definitely had a tough chlildhood, and it seems like the money he made in his NHL contract was one of his few points of joy in his life.

David Frost was not killed by Danton.  Frost is a defendant in a case which charges him with twelve counts of sexual exploitation and one count of assault, though.  Additionally, Frost was arrested for using Danton’s credit card to purchase gas.  Imagine a man takes you into his life as a fatherly figure and agent, you try to kill him, and then he uses your credit card to buy gas without permission.  If Danton’s head was not on straight by this point, what is he thinking now that the lawyer who represented him in his case dealing with the murder-for-hire plot of Frost is being charged with unauthorized practice of law?

Howard Kieffer was apparently allowed to practice law in North Dakota’s federal courts, but never served as an attorney in a North Dakota state.  It is hard to use your good standing in a state where you never actually practiced law to get clearance to practice in others.  He also never graduated from law school.

It seems like no matter who you are, if you are somehow in Mike Danton’s circle, you are bound to end up in trouble.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

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