NFL Rams Can’t Pause Ticketholder Class Action, Must Submit Pricing Data

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A federal judge denied a motion by the NFL Rams last week, attempting to delay a class action lawsuit over season ticket licensing. Days later, the judge ordered the organization to produce pricing data related to the team’s move from St. Louis to Los Angeles.

The NFL Rams were hit with several class action lawsuits alleging season ticket holders in St. Louis were left in the lurch when the team moved to Los Angeles. The plaintiffs claim that they and others were never reimbursed for their unusable tickets and Personal Seat Licenses.

The class action lawsuits were later consolidated into a single action.

In early February, U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr. ordered the team to turn over pricing information to the plaintiffs, including data about Personal Seat Licensing pricing and demand in the LA market.

The judge also ordered the Rams to allow the plaintiffs to again depose their Chief Operating Officer after receiving the additional information.

Judge Limbaugh Jr. further refused to halt the class action lawsuit while the team appeals certification of the proposed Class.

“Fact discovery is set to close on June 18, 2018. Any discovery conducted between now and June 18 is unlikely to have been ‘useless,’ even in the event that the Eighth Circuit takes the appeal and reverses class certification, because such discovery would still be relevant to individual claims,” noted the judge’s order.

The Rams argued that the expense and burden of proceeding with the class action lawsuit while the Eight Circuit reviewed the decision would cause “irreparable harm.” However, the judge disagreed.

“The Eighth Circuit itself may order that the case be stayed. No irreparable harm is likely to befall the Rams in the meantime, particularly in light of the fact that the form of class notice has not been finalized and there is no indication that the notice will be finalized and distributed before the petition is decided,” concluded the judge’s order.

The Rams class action lawsuits were filed over allegations that the Rams violated an agreement with season ticket holders to allow them priority to purchase tickets after the team moved to Los Angeles. According to the plaintiffs, season ticket holders had to pay thousands, not only for tickets, but also for Personal Seat Licenses for many years.

The plaintiffs argue that they should be able to purchase season tickets now that the team is in LA or be able to transfer their Personal Seat Licenses.

According to the Rams class action lawsuit, the team also misrepresented the organization’s intent to move to Los Angeles.

Several proposed classes were recently certified by the federal judge; however, the team is appealing that decision.

The lead plaintiffs are represented by Thomas Rosenfeld, Mark Goldenberg and Kevin Green of Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli PC, Anthony Bruning, Anthony Bruning Jr., Ryan Bruning and Edward Roth of Bruning Law Firm LLC, and Richard Cornfeld of Law Office of Richard S. Cornfeld.

The Consolidated St. Louis Rams Season Ticket License Class Action Lawsuit is McAllister v. The St. Louis Rams LLC, Case No. 4:16-cv-00172, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

UPDATE: On Dec. 5, 2018, ticketholders managed to secure a $24 million class action settlement over allegations that the NFL failed to properly repay purchasers after moving its Rams from St. Louis to Los Angeles in 2015.

UPDATE 2: February 2019, the St. Louis Rams personal seat license class action settlement is now open. Click here to file a claim.