Litigation

More Misuse of Discrimination Laws, Major League Baseball Division

By Bruce Nye

    Last November, CalBizLit reported here on an unreported appellate decision favoring the Los Angeles Angels involving Mothers Day mom's only give-aways.  Short version:  Angels give tote bags to moms on Mothers Day, lawyer with too much time on his hands sues for discrimination, Angels decide to fight the case, win at trial court level, Court of Appeal tells plaintiff to go pound sand.  Good. Correct outcome.  Good for the Angels for fighting it.

    How disappointing to see my home team, the Oakland A's not only get swept by the Giants over this past  weekend but apparently capitulate in the face of a similar suit:  One Alfred G. Rava, an attorney from L.A., sues the A's over their egregious wrongdoing in depriving men of floppy plaid sunhats given away on Mothers Day, 2004.  Wall Street Journal and ESPN report that the A's have settled for $500K+ -- obviously small potatoes in the world of both class litigation and Major League Baseball, but still.  And Athletics Nation has the info for potential class members here.  Surprise, surprise:  it's a coupon settlement with gift certificates to Macys for class members and $260,000 in attorneys' fees.

    Pathetic.

Full post as published by CalBizLit on June 15, 2009 (boomark / email).