Excel Sports Management has withdrawn its lawsuit against Endeavor from the New York State Supreme Court and will instead bring the case to be adjudicated under the MLBPA arbitral system.
In the initial lawsuit, Excel sought injunctive relief and damages from Endeavor for inducing two baseball agents (James Murray IV and Michale Stival) to breach their currently contracted employment agreements with Excel. The Complaint said Endeavor knew Murray and Stival’s employment contracts still had several years remaining but still induced them to breach their contracts and join Endeavor. Excel said in an announcement their action against Endeavor is about preserving the integrity of the entire system of sports agents and their contractual obligations to their employers.
Endeavor recently became a publicly traded company after launching its IPO in April this year. Excel included in the lawsuit how misconduct like attempting to poach agents is egregious and should come as a concern to shareholders.
The Major League Baseball Players Association requested that Excel bring the matter through their arbitral system given the precedent-setting implications the case carries. Excel added in their statement they appreciate the serious and expeditious attention the union has directed towards the claim.
Excel has consequently withdrawn the lawsuit from the court and filed a claim against Endeavor, Jim Murray, and Michael Stival with the MLBPA to continue to prosecute the claim within their arbitral system.