News

Judge tosses suit against NFL over cheerleader wages

FILE - In this Dec. 28, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers cheerleaders perform during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif. A former 49ers cheerleader has filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, alleging NFL executives and team owners are conspiring to suppress wages for cheerleaders. Photo: Associated Press/AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File



SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge says a lawsuit accusing the NFL and team owners of conspiring to suppress wages for cheerleaders lacks evidence to support that claim.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup dismissed the lawsuit by a former San Francisco 49ers cheerleader. The suit sought class action status on behalf of all NFL cheerleaders.

Alsup’s order — issued on Thursday — said the lawsuit fails to provide the details of “who did what, to whom…, where, and when” to support its claim of an NFL conspiracy over cheerleader wages.

An email to an attorney for the 49ers cheerleader, Drexel Bradshaw, was not immediately returned. The cheerleader was only identified in the suit as “Kelsey K.”


File Photo: Attorney Drexel Bradshaw, representing a former
NFL cheerleader identified only as “Jane Doe,” speaks at a news
conference in San Francisco, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. The
former San Francisco 49ers cheerleader filed a federal lawsuit
Tuesday alleging NFL executives and team owners are conspiring
to suppress wages for cheerleaders. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Alsup gave her an opportunity to amend the lawsuit and refile it by June 15.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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