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Aaron Goodwin Plans To File Complaint Against Arn Tellem

I am not sure how this originally got past my radar, but over the weekend, I read for the first time that Aaron Goodwin plans to file a formal complaint (if he has not already), with the NBA Players Association, against Arn Tellem.  The complaint will be based on Al Horford’s switch from Goodwin to Tellem and Wasserman Media Group (WMG) mere days prior to Horford being able to discuss a contract extension with the Atlanta Hawks.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a player changing his agent; agent/player agreements are terminable at will.  But as has been discussed at length on Sports Agent Blog, there is a remedy in tort law if someone intentionally interferes with your contractual relations with your client.  Goodwin would have to prove that Tellem and/or anyone under his control at WMG had knowledge of Horford’s relationship with Goodwin (easy) and that they caused the interference.  Goodwin’s case would be aided if he can prove that someone at WMG had a bad motive in the recruitment of Horford.

In the context of professional basketball, interference with contractual relations, as a viable claim, has been largely a myth.  That is until an arbitrator awarded Keith Glass $40,000 to be paid by Andy Miller.  When I covered that award, I wrote the following,

Some in the industry would call it “competition”, and claim that this type of ruling could create a slippery slope where even ethical recruiting practices are punished with the levying of damages.  The worry is that this type of decision might open the floodgates for every disgruntled agent who has ever lost a player.  No one wants to chill the open market of agents and players who switch agents for a variety of proper reasons.  Others are extremely happy that justice might finally be served on those who ignore rules, regulations, and laws.

Will this decision set a precedent, or will it be a blip in the standard unregulated practice of agents stealing clients from one another?

If Goodwin wins in his fight against Tellem, are the floodgates officially opened?  If Goodwin has a solid claim, then a ruling in his favor would be a good thing, but at least at this point, there must be some concern that the slippery slope is beginning to form.  I understand Goodwin’s pain, though.  LeBron James, Dwight Howard, and Al Horford are all former clients.  Representing those three players, alone, throughout their careers would be enough for almost any man to retire and live a very happy life.

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.

2 replies on “Aaron Goodwin Plans To File Complaint Against Arn Tellem”

Understandably, I think you have Dwight Howard on the brain and wrote his last name numerous times when you meant Horford. Interesting post, though. And thanks for the link.

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