4771.20 Civil actions - institution of higher education. - Ohio Statutes

4771.20 Civil actions - institution of higher education.

(A) An institution of higher education may bring a civil action against an athlete agent who violates this chapter for compensatory damages, punitive or exemplary damages, and equitable relief as the court finds appropriate. A court may grant equitable relief to a plaintiff under this section to prevent harm that could result from the acts or omissions of an athlete or athlete agent if the court finds a reasonable likelihood that a violation occurred.

(B) For purposes of this section, an institution of higher education suffers harm when, as the result of the acts of an athlete agent or an athlete, both of the following occur:

(1) The institution or an athlete enrolled at the institution is penalized or is declared ineligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics by a national association that promotes or regulates intercollegiate athletics or by an intercollegiate athletic conference.

(2) As a result of the penalty or declaration of ineligibility, the institution of higher education experiences any of the following:

(a) A loss of the ability to grant an athletic scholarship;

(b) A loss of the ability to recruit an athlete;

(c) A loss of eligibility to participate in intercollegiate competition;

(d) A loss of eligibility to participate in post-season athletic competition;

(e) A forfeiture of any athletic contest;

(f) An adverse financial impact including, but not limited to, lost revenue from media coverage of athletic competition or lost ticket sales.

(C) An institution of higher education that prevails in an action brought under this section may recover compensatory and punitive or exemplary damages. A court also may award court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees to a prevailing plaintiff.

(D) In a civil action brought under this section, a court shall not award punitive or exemplary damages against a surety.

Effective Date: 03-22-2001