Nevada judge orders UFL pay dispute to arbitration

Nevada orders arbitration for pay dispute between UFL founder, former Vegas and Omaha players

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- A Nevada state court judge is ordering third-party arbitration for a contract dispute between former United Football League players and league founder and chairman William Hambrecht.

Clark County District Court Judge Rob Bare told attorneys for both sides Tuesday that he'll suspend proceedings in a civil lawsuit seeking millions of dollars in back pay, pending an arbitration ruling.

A lawsuit filed March 1 claims 78 former players for the Omaha (Neb.) Nighthawks and Las Vegas Locomotives haven't been paid the $3,500 per game they were promised in contracts or Hambrecht personal guarantees.

The UFL folded in October because of financial problems, but league attorney Kristen Gallagher says the league is still viable even if it has no games scheduled.

It also had teams in Norfolk, Va., and Sacramento, Calif.