A three-judge panel of the appeals court put US District Judge Susan Richard Nelson's order to lift the 45-day lockout on hold last week. The owners reinstated the lockout a few hours later, and on Monday the League filed a brief with the eighth US Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis, arguing that the lockout should remain on hold until the two sides have fought out their court battle.
NFL owners asked the US appeals court to delay enforcement of the lower court’s order stopping their lockout of players, saying federal law barred such interference in labour disputes.
“The absence of a stay would irreparably harm the NFL by undercutting its labour law rights,” the League stated in court papers, according to Bloomberg. “Federal courts may not interfere – on either side – in cases involving or growing out of a labour dispute.”
Attorneys for the players argued last week against a stay of Nelson's order, suggesting that the players’ careers would be damaged by the continued lockout. However, the NFL has claimed in its new filing that the players’ alleged fears are exaggerated.
