A federal judge ruled this week that a Shakopee bar owner could not be personally liable for allegedly showing an Ultimate Fighting Championship bout in his establishment.
The fight, between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Keith Jardine, took place back in 2009, but it took until this past Tuesday for the personal-liability issue to work its way through federal court.
Judge Richard H. Kyle ruled that the pay-per-view broadcast’s owner, Joe Hand Promotions, Inc., had not demonstrated that there was ”no distinction” between the corporate entity of Kelley’s Bar and the entity’s owner.
Score one for the little guy. And it’s no small thing. As Bloomberg News explains, hundreds of such lawsuits are filed each year:
The companies send investigators into bars and restaurants the night of an event to gather photographic or video evidence that the establishment showed it without paying the fee.
The price for watching a pay-per-view boxing event at home might be $50, while businesses typically pay $1,500 to $3,000 or more depending on the size of the venue, said Joseph Gagliardi, president of J&J Sports Productions Inc., which promotes boxing matches.
Showing a boxing match, soccer game or mixed martial arts event without paying the commercial fee could potentially result in a bar or restaurant owner getting hit with a $260,000 bill.
September 24, 2012 at 5:05 pm
any one interested in representing me in counter claim ? kelleysbar@yahoo.com this whole thing was brought to court on the behalf of what others have done. i had nothing to do with this and was brought to court. someone has to stick up for the defense of any bar. Joe hand productions could send out a signal and send a investigator in and say they seen it at the establishment. any owner or establishment wouldn’t have to know anything. but then are just brought to court to settle out of court. i do believe there could be a class action against Joe Hand promotions on behave of them legally bullying there way to settlements..