Live Nation Hit With $5 Billion Class Action Lawsuit as DOJ Breakup Battle Intensifies
Live Nation and Ticketmaster face a $5 billion consumer class action lawsuit following the Department of Justice's recent move to break up the entertainment giants. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, represents millions of ticket buyers and alleges monopolistic practices in the live events industry.
Concert crowd at outdoor venue
The lawsuit accuses Live Nation of:
- Forcing out competitors
- Threatening venues that work with rival ticketing services
- Engaging in anti-competitive conduct beyond the scope of their 2010 merger agreement
US District Judge Arun Subramanian will oversee the case, with plaintiffs represented by attorneys from Israel David and Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd.
The DOJ's current case differs from its 2010 merger review, emphasizing "more expansive forms of anti-competitive conduct." While Live Nation dismisses the allegations as "baseless," legal experts note that the company's failure to adhere to previous merger guidelines could support the government's position.
US Department of Justice building exterior
However, some antitrust lawyers question whether a complete breakup is legally feasible. Live Nation maintains that the live events market has "more competition than ever," though their defense may be complicated by their previous agreement to specific operational guidelines during the merger approval.
Michael Rapino in black shirt
This consumer class action could potentially trigger additional lawsuits against the entertainment conglomerate as the DOJ case proceeds. The plaintiffs' legal team has not yet responded to media requests for comment.