Consumers across the United States who purchased concert tickets through Ticketmaster may soon unite in a class-action lawsuit against the ticketing giant. The case centers on allegations that Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, abused its market dominance, leading to inflated ticket prices and excessive fees.
Class Certification Hearing in Los Angeles
A recent hearing in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles saw Judge George Wu consider a motion to certify the plaintiffs as a class. His tentative decision remains undisclosed, yet the arguments presented suggest the possibility of a favorable outcome for the plaintiffs.
Potential Impact of Class Certification
- Allowing class certification would empower plaintiffs to negotiate significant settlements.
- Live Nation could face damages potentially reaching billions if the case advances to trial.
- Under federal antitrust law, successful plaintiffs may receive three times their actual damages.
The class-action aims to represent all U.S. consumers who bought primary tickets from Ticketmaster since 2010. This could encompass millions of individuals impacted by the alleged pricing practices.
Arguments Against Class Action
Live Nation’s attorney, Tim O’Mara, contended that not all ticket buyers experienced the same level of impact from the alleged anticompetitive behavior. He argued that differences in venue size, location, and ticketing fees blurred the claims of uniformity among buyers.
Key Points From the Hearing
- O’Mara indicated that the plaintiffs’ economic analysis did not account for vital differences in ticket transactions.
- Judge Wu suggested that challenges to the analysis might be best suited for pretrial motions.
- Consistent with Ninth Circuit law, the plaintiffs’ expert analysis was deemed acceptable unless significant flaws were evident.
The lawsuit’s core claim is that Live Nation compensates major artists excessively, recouping losses by securing long-term, exclusive agreements with concert venues that mandate Ticketmaster for ticket sales. This arrangement allegedly allows Ticketmaster to dominate the market, imposing high fees on consumers.
Broader Implications for Ticketmaster
The ticketing company faces ongoing scrutiny from consumers frustrated by rising prices and service fees. Complaints often target Ticketmaster’s monopolistic practices in both the primary and secondary markets for concert tickets.
As the case progresses, observers await further developments, particularly regarding the class certification ruling from Judge Wu. The outcome could set a significant precedent for consumer rights in the concert ticketing industry.
