Class Dismissed: Fifth Circuit Affirms Denial of Super Bowl Fans’ Class Certification

On September 9, 2016, the Fifth Circuit upheld a district judge’s decision to deny class certification to those fans who were displaced or denied entirely from seats at Super Bowl XLV. Additionally, it affirmed the dismissal of the breach of contract claim against the Dallas Cowboys, agreeing that the Cowboys, whose home stadium served as the location for Super Bowl XLV, were merely third-party vendors of tickets to the event.

In doing so, the Fifth Circuit rejected several proposed classes of fans, including finding …

August 26, 2015 Litigation / NFL

Super Bowl Seating Battle Not Over Yet: Ticket Holders Appeal

Despite their win that awarded $75,000 in March, Super Bowl XLV ticket holders are appealing the trial court decision. In a court document filed on August 21 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the ticket holders are asking the appeals court to overturn the district judge’s pretrial rulings.

The ticket-holder appellants claim that the district court judge erred in denying class certification to those who were completely deprived of their seats and others who were relocated to seats with obstructed views.…

March 12, 2015 Litigation / NFL

NFL Owes $75,000 in Super Bowl Seating Suit; Witness Tampering Questions Remain

On Thursday, March 12, the NFL was found guilty of breaching its contracts with seven fans who purchased tickets to Super Bowl XLV back in 2011 and is ordered to pay those fans $75,000.

The seven fans brought this lawsuit against the NFL after they were denied the seats they purchased tickets to at the Super Bowl in Arlington, Texas. Only a few hours before game time, the local fire marshal determined the seats unsafe, and the NFL had to scurry to supply new seats. …

March 7, 2015 Litigation / NFL

NFL’s Goodell Says Mea Culpa for Super Bowl Seating Problems

A taped deposition of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was played for jurors at the Super Bowl XLV seating trial. In the recording, Goodell blamed the league, not the Dallas Cowboys, for the fiasco that left over 400 ticket holders without seats at all while other affected ticket holders had seats with restricted views.

When asked whether the Cowboys and owner should be held responsible for the seating problem, Goodell responded,

“I’m not blaming others. I’m blaming ourselves. I’m accepting responsibility. It is

March 5, 2015 Litigation / NFL

Super Bowl Seating Trial Underway; Angry Fans Claim NFL Greedy

On Monday, March 2, a jury was selected and the trial finally began in the 2011 Super Bowl seating snafu lawsuit that was brought by eight plaintiffs seeking damages for their unsatisfactory experience at the game

In 2011, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl held in the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington Texas. Some ticket holding patrons, however, missed it. The eight plaintiffs in this lawsuit, in addition to 200 other plaintiffs in a second pending lawsuit, are suing …