This factually complex case involved a lawsuit brought by the Oakland Raiders football team against the NFL and the Commission of the league. The NFL conducts its business through a variety of profit and non-profit organizations. The first issue in the case was whether the dispute was properly before the court or whether the matter should be resolved by the court or whether the court should decline to exercise jurisdiction and allow the companies to self-regulate according to their by-laws (the Abstention Doctrine.) The second issue involved a derivative action and whether the plaintiff needed to make a demand that the board of directors take some action prior to the football team filing a lawsuit. The Raiders claimed that making a demand would be futile because the directors were not disinterested parties. The court found that the Abstention Doctrine did apply and that the requirement of making a demand was not a futile effort.
1. Why did the abstention doctrine apply in this case?
2. Did the Oakland Raiders win or lose their case?