Patriots fans class action lawsuit against the NFL

Is there any lawyers in here that could help if we can find a way to sue Goodell and the NFL to get our draft picks back? I know it's a long shot, but I am curious if we have a case since the NFL made a false report, denies the ideal gas law, and that amicus curiae brief that was entered into Brady's court case.

For us fans, who would be willing to join if we do this? I am tired of Goodell acting like a dictator and taking our picks for no reason!

I wouldn't hold my breath.

As in the other thread, I would get a decent letter drawn up and get it emailed to Kessler and Yee and see what happens, they may have invaluable advice in what can be done, maybe cc Jonathan Kraft for the crack.

Step back from the ledge OP...

If anyone has a lawsuit it is the player taken at pick 32 in round 2. Lower pay, and no 5th year "rookie tag." Th3 convaluted investigation structure of a monopolized organization has unjustly done harm to his earning potential, with ZERO evidence. Scratch that, every pick from the 2nd round on should be lawyering up, as their draft number is generally tied (albeit minorly) to draft number. Hell, anyone taken in the 2ND and 3rd could argue they would have gone to the pats at 29/28 or whqtever we end up picking at.

The problem is the NFLPA does not want to see the NYFL go down in a blaze, as it would impede the NYFL's profits, thereby reducing the NFLPA's slice of the pie.

102 Pat said:

Step back from the ledge OP...

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That's the sort of thing that was said to those that set up the Supporters trust up at my team here in London, its now has 15,000 paying members, direct access to the team owners, one to one meetings. Respected by the media whereby they often get comments from and they have been instrumental in many things such as ticket pricing, away travel prices and many other such things that affect us fans.

Big Bucks said:

That's the sort of thing that was said to those that set up the Supporters trust up at my team here in London, its now has 15,000 paying members, direct access to the team owners, one to one meetings. Respected by the media whereby they often get comments from and they have been instrumental in many things such as ticket pricing, away travel prices and many other such things that affect us fans.

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NE has sold out the place on season tickets and has a decade-long waiting list. Kraft is not going to care about some "supporters' trust". Why should he? And neither is any other NFL owner of a non-struggling team. And probably not the owners of struggling teams, either.

And here's another reason:

Gillette holds approximately 69,000. Say it's an average ticket price of $125. That's a per-game gate of $8,625,500 of which the home team keeps 60%, so 5,175,000. Multiply by 8 home games to get 41,400,000.

According to the Packers financials (which are open because they are a not-for-profit entity with a charity as the ultimate beneficiary) each team's share last year of NFL media money was $226 million. That's almost five and a half times the home share of the gate.

Sign me up

The pick is gone because Robert Kraft is a giant ****y. It's up to you to decide if you're okay with that, and if you're not most of us certainly won't blame you.

its really stupid to me.

And you guys will have like the 30th pick in the 2nd , so basically picking early 3rd.

A State Law might confer 'Standing'. That may possibly be done with a ballot initiative or in the normal way a Bill becomes law. Who's going to pay for this? Assuming we are allowed to sue, the same question on bill paying applies. I suppose you can get volunteers to get the petition signatures but are there any lawyers who would do this for free?

Some other form of oversight could be enacted, e.g., requiring the AG to investigate fines and penalties against local teams automatically or in the public interest. This may have unintended consequences though.

INAL but I think we're just screwed.

We're not even past the appeal stage. MAYBE after the SCOTUS denies cert. after CA2 affirms Berman's decision, MAYBE Patriots season ticket holders could sue the league and not have the case laughed out of court, but what are the damages? The value of the season tix?

I don't think any court will warmly entertain any motion for an injunction against the league taking the picks away.

QuantumMechanic said:

NE has sold out the place on season tickets and has a decade-long waiting list. Kraft is not going to care about some "supporters' trust". Why should he? And neither is any other NFL owner of a non-struggling team. And probably not the owners of struggling teams, either.

And here's another reason:

Gillette holds approximately 69,000. Say it's an average ticket price of $125. That's a per-game gate of $8,625,500 of which the home team keeps 60%, so 5,175,000. Multiply by 8 home games to get 41,400,000.

According to the Packers financials (which are open because they are a not-for-profit entity with a charity as the ultimate beneficiary) each team's share last year of NFL media money was $226 million. That's almost five and a half times the home share of the gate.

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That's no difference to what Tottenham have really. The tv media and commercial deals they have signed is enormous in comparison to there gate receipts (1 to 4). This thing works both ways and is an advantage for the board too.

Would still be interested to hear what Kessler or Yee would make of it. Would be even nicer if maybe Brady covers the lawyers fees too. cc in Jonthan Kraft and he may make a donation. Never know unless you ask.

102 Pat said:

Step back from the ledge OP...

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Why the sarcasm? Isn't this America? We sue for hot coffee for Christsakes. We sue for everything. Let's sue

I'm not sure which makes me roll my eyes faster, teenage atheists posting about the Bible or laypeople posting about the law.

I still haven't read a compelling case for Kraft taking legal action beyond a bunch of angry fans who would be fine with a Pyrrhic and expensive lawsuit which would ultimately be symbolic.

And I completely believe Kraft when he said he was wrong to trust the NFL and that he did so because he thought it would go easier on Brady.

But I'm one of those idiots who knows he doesn't know enough about the law and is also happy to have an owner who has brought us 4 championships, 7 SB trips and 11 AFCCGs so I'm just some idiot.

The picks are gone.

The justice the Patriots will get is the court affirming Judge Berman's ruling and permanently damaging the league's ability to do this to us or another team again.

I'm a lawyer and I hate to burst your bubble, but you have no case. Draft picks are part of the team's contract with the NFL, as is whatever agreement is binding on the teams that allows the commissioner to take away said draft picks, and apparently as I have read elsewhere, where Robert Kraft gave up his rights to sue the NFL. You are not a party to the contract nor an intended beneficiary so a judge would not let you sue for breach.

Call Saul.

QuantumMechanic said:

NE has sold out the place on season tickets and has a decade-long waiting list. Kraft is not going to care about some "supporters' trust". Why should he? And neither is any other NFL owner of a non-struggling team. And probably not the owners of struggling teams, either.

And here's another reason:

Gillette holds approximately 69,000. Say it's an average ticket price of $125. That's a per-game gate of $8,625,500 of which the home team keeps 60%, so 5,175,000. Multiply by 8 home games to get 41,400,000.

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The average seat at Gillette is nowhere near that. Lower bowl seats are $169.

I have no idea how much Club Seats are, but it's more than lower bowl. Then there are suites:

VIP Seating at Boston's Biggest Venues

EMC Luxury Suites
The EMC Luxury Suites at Gillette Stadium start at about $175,000 for the year and give members access to the Putnam Club. The suites have private bathrooms, marble wet bars, and personal attendants. Privileges also include first right to playoff, Super Bowl, and concert tickets. One Patriot Place, Foxborough, 508-543-8200

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The Brandon Five said:

The average seat at Gillette is nowhere near that. Lower bowl seats are $169.

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No, they're not. According to http://www.patriots.com/sites/patriots.com/files/logos_variablepricing_map_chart_combo.pdf the lower bowl prices for season ticket holders are:

• $195-$245 between the 25s
• $169-$212 from the back line of the endzones to the 25s
• $135-$160 for the rest of the lower bowl seats.

All the non-club seat 200s are $117-$140.

So the cheapest possible seat in the bottom two bowls is $117.