John Grady, J.D., Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department of Sport and Entertainment Management
College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management

Education
Ph.D., Florida State University
J.D., Florida State University College of Law
B.S., Penn State University

Research Interests
ADA compliance in sport and entertainment venues
Intellectual property protection in sport
Ambush marketing and sponsorship protection at mega sport events

Biography
Dr. John Grady teaches graduate courses in Sport Law and Risk and Security Management.  At the undergraduate level, he teaches courses in Business Law and Risk Management.  Dr. Grady’s research interests focus primarily on the legal aspects of the business of sport. This includes concentrations in the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act by the sport and entertainment venue industries as well as intellectual property protection by professional and collegiate sport properties. He is the principal investigator on a funded research study investigating the risk perceptions of international venue managers in accommodating patrons with disabilities.

Dr. Grady’s research has been published in outlets including the Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport, Sport Marketing Quarterly, the Electronic Journal of Hospitality Legal, Safety and Security Research, and the Entertainment and Sports Lawyer.  He serves on the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport and is the Assistant Editor of the Journal of Venue and Event Management. 

Dr. Grady has mentored several students conducting undergraduate research, including one of the first Magellan Scholars at the University of South Carolina.  He also designed the Sport and Entertainment Management Department’s Undergraduate Research Track. He currently serves on the Office of Undergraduate Research Advisory Board and as chair of the Social Sciences proposals for the Magellan Scholar program.

He was the recipient of the 2009 Harry S. and Carmen E. Varney College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management Distinguished Teacher of the Year award and the 2009 Ada B. Thomas Outstanding Faculty Advisor of the Year awards. He is a previous recipient of the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management Patricia G. Moody Distinguished Researcher and Scholar of the Year and Mortar Board Honor Society Excellence in Teaching Award, and was twice nominated for the Distinguished Undergraduate Mentor award.

During the Summer of 2012, Dr. Grady will be conducting research at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. His research projects will focus on identifying instances of ambush marketing and devising sponsorship protection strategies that official sponsors and event organizers can utilize to curb the occurrence of ambush marketing as well as the evolving role of social media in Olympic sponsorship and ambush marketing. While in London, he will also assist two undergraduate Sport and Entertainment Management students, who have been awarded a Magellan Scholar research grant, on a case study about stadium accessibility for fans with disabilities at the London Olympic Games.

Publications

Grady, J., McKelvey, S., & Bernthal, M.J., (2010, forthcoming). From Beijing 2008 to London 2012: Examining event-specific Olympic legislation vis à vis the rights and interests of stakeholders. Journal of Sponsorship, 3(2).

Grady, J. (2010). Premises liability. In D. Cotten & J.T. Wolohan. Law for Recreation and Sport Managers (5th edition). Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing.

Grady, J. & Ohlin, J.B. (2009). Equal access to hospitality services for guests with mobility impairments under the Americans with Disabilities Act: Implications for the hospitality industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 28(1), 161-169.

Grady, J., Clement, A. & Woishnis, J. (2009). Trademark counterfeiting of sport merchandise and criminal law. In J. Lee & J. Lee (Ed.), Sport and Criminal Behavior. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press.

McKelvey, S., & Grady, J. (2008). Sponsorship program protection strategies for special sport events: Are event organizers outmaneuvering ambush marketers? Journal of Sport Management, 22(4).

Grady, J., & McKelvey, S. (2008). Trademark protection of school colors: Smack Apparel and Sinks decisions trigger color-ful legal debate for the collegiate licensing industry. Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport. 18(2), 101-136.

Grady, J. (2008). University of Kansas and Kansas Athletics v. Larry Sinks Legal Case Brief. International Journal of Sport Communication,1, 1-6.

Grady, J., & Bernthal, M.J. (2007). Easy target: Legal issues in sport website accessibility. In J. James (Ed.), Sport Marketing Across the Spectrum: Selected Research from Emerging, Developing, and Established Scholars: The Sport Marketing Association's Book of Papers (pp. 127-142). Morgantown, WV: Fitness Information Technology.

Grady, J. (2007).  Fantasy stats case tests limits of intellectual property in the digital age. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 16(4), 230-231.

Grady, J., & Andrew, D.P.S. (2007). Equality of access to emergency services for people with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport, 17(1), 1-25.

McKelvey, S., & Grady, J. (2006). Missouri court fashions new “twist” on athletes’ publicity rights.  American Bar Association Entertainment and Sport Lawyer, 24(3), 1, 26-28.

Grady, J., & Andrew, D.P.S. (2006). Emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 77(2), 10-11. 

Grady, J. (2005). University of Alabama case to test limits of trademark licensing in sport art cases. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 14(4) 251-252.

Grady, J., McKelvey, S., & Clement. A. (2005). A new “twist” for “The Homerun Guys”? An analysis of the right of publicity versus parody. Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport. 15(2), 267-294.

Grady, J., & Clement, A. (2005).  Gambling and collegiate sport. Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport, 15(1), 95-112.

Ohlin, J.B., & Grady, J. (2005). Web site access and the Americans with Disabilities     Act: Implications   for the hospitality industry. Electronic Journal of Hospitality Legal, Safety and Security Research, 2, 1-8. 

 Andrew, D.P.S., & Grady, J. (2005). Access Now v. Southwest Airlines: A net loss for users with disabilities. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 14, 56-58.

Grady, J. & Ohlin, J. (2004). The Application of Title III of the ADA to sport web sites. Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport, 14, 180-161.

Grady, J., & Andrew, D.P.S. (2004).  Legal implications of the Americans with Disabilities Act: Changing guidelines, structures, and attitudes in accommodating guests with disabilities. Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport, 13(3), 101-122.

McKelvey, S., & Grady, J. (2004). An analysis of the ongoing global efforts to combat ambush marketing: Will corporate marketers "take" the gold in Greece? Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport, 14, 191-220.

Grady, J. (2004).  Right of Publicity, Trademark case to have implications for marketing professional athletes. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 13(1), 59-60.

McKelvey, S., & Grady, J. (2004).  Ambush Marketing: The on-going legal battleground for sport marketers. American Bar Association Entertainment and Sports Lawyer.

Professional Associations
Sport and Recreation Law Association
North American Society for Sport Management
Sport Marketing Association

E-mail: jgrady@mailbox.sc.edu
Office: Rm 2012-F, Carolina Coliseum
Phone: 803-777-9327
Fax: 803-777-8788

Courses Taught:
SPTE 325 -- Club and Resort Recreation Programming

SPTE 376-Risk Management

SPTE 530 -- Sport and the Law

SPTE 746 -- Risk and Security Management in Public Assembly Facilities

TSTM 240 -- Business Law

SPTE 498 -- Research Experience

SPTE 499 -- Senior Thesis