In a thrilling twist just days before a huge courtroom showdown, Live Nation and Ticketmaster are asking a judge to hit pause on their upcoming antitrust trial. Why? Because they want two legal questions reviewed by an appeals court first. But the Department of Justice (DOJ) isn't letting this slide. They're firing back, calling it a 'desperate plea' and saying it's not just 'meritless' but breaks the legal rules!
The DOJ, along with attorneys general from all over the U.S., just submitted a 15-page document on Tuesday, urging the judge to keep the trial going as planned. Jury selections are set to kick off on March 2, and the DOJ is totally against any delays!
Last week's court decision was a mixed bag for Live Nation. The judge ruled they didn't have a monopoly on national concert promotions, but serious claims about Ticketmaster's exclusive contracts and Live Nation's strong-arm tactics to control venues are still on the table. But instead of challenging the decision, Live Nation is picking apart two specific legal points.
The DOJ's response is fiery, starting with this bold sentence: 'On the eve of a landmark monopolization trial, Defendants make a desperate plea.' Yikes! They argue Live Nation's motion is just another ploy to stall things.
Last week, Live Nation exec Dan Wall posted a statement saying ‘It’s Time to Move On’—but interestingly, it got pulled from their website just before this legal move! Seems like there’s some serious back-and-forth drama in play!
The DOJ argues that Live Nation's request breaks a federal rule designed to keep antitrust trials on track without delay. Live Nation retorted, saying that law doesn't count here because other states are seeking damages too. But the DOJ isn't buying it, saying Live Nation's argument has no solid backing.
The DOJ is asking the judge to reject this delaying tactic, pointing out that it's just some courtroom gamesmanship to hold off the trial. So, with jury picks just days away, the question remains: will the trial go on as scheduled, or does Live Nation's Hail Mary have a shot?