A recent class action lawsuit, filed September 10, 2012 in the United States District Court in New York, alleges that Live Nation and Ticketmaster violated New York state law by offering solely paperless ticketing. The suit, brought in relation to tickets purchased for a Swedish House Mafia event on December 16, 2011, seeks damages from Live Nation for countless consumers who purchased tickets to numerous events in New York.
The suit claims that Ticketmaster and Live Nation violated the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law of New York (ACAL). By employing a paperless ticketing system for New York events, Live Nation and Ticketmaster violated ACAL because the system did not provide the consumer with either “an option to purchase paperless tickets that the consumer could transfer at any price, and at any time, and without additional fees” or “an option at the time of initial sale to purchase the same tickets in some other form that is transferrable.”
The plaintiff in the suit says that Live Nation/Ticketmaster did not provide him with these options. He was told that he was only able to pick up his ticket, which cost him $89.75, at the Will Call Office on the night of the show, that only he was able to pick up the ticket, and that “there will be no refunds issued if you are unable to attend.” He was not able to purchase any other form of ticket.
Any resident of New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut who purchased tickets to specific New York events between July 2, 2010 and January 26, 2012 might be eligible for damages, if the case is decided against Live Nation/Ticketmaster. The plaintiff is seeking damages of at least $50 for each violation.
