St. Louis Rams Relocation Class Action Lawsuit Gets Certified

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Earlier this week, a Missouri federal judge granted Class certification to two Classes of former Rams season ticket holders who were affected by the team’s move from St. Louis to Los Angeles.

However, the judge rejected plaintiff Ronald McAllister’s attempt to hold the Rams liable for terminated third-party agreements.

McAllister says he purchased two personal seat licenses (PSLs) for Rams season tickets. PSL owners are reportedly provided with the right to purchase season tickets for St. Louis Rams games through the end of the 2024 season.

According to the Rams class action, McAllister purchased the first PSL from Fans Inc. in 1995 and the second directly from the Rams in 2005.

When the Rams moved to Los Angeles in 2016, McAllister alleges the team terminated both contracts and thus the Rams were contractually obligated to refund PSL owners at least a portion of the deposits they paid under the Fans contract.

U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. certified a Class and Subclass of Rams season ticket holders. The Class includes all persons and entities who owned a PSL purchased from Fans Inc. that was not later transferred or upgraded.

The Subclass includes all natural persons who are members of the above Class and who never claimed the PSL expense as a tax deduction for business purposes.

“The fact that some individual proof may be required does not prevent the plaintiffs from carrying their burden to show that common questions otherwise predominate,” Judge Limbaugh wrote in the order in response to an argument by the Rams.

In a separate ruling, Judge Limbaugh denied McAllister’s motion for partial summary judgment over the issue of whether the Rams were liable for refunds related to the terminated Fans license agreement. The judge found that McAllister brought up questions of fact regarding a possible legal agency relationship between Fans Inc., the Rams, and the St. Louis Regional Convention and Visitors Commission (CVC) and that summary judgment was not appropriate.

“It may be that FANS Inc. was solely the agent of the CVC,” Judge Limbaugh said. “The CVC and Rams are currently in arbitration to resolve the claims between those parties. The issue of the Rams’ liability on the FANS agreement remains unsettled.”

McAllister filed the Rams class action lawsuit in February 2016. In September of that year, Judge Limbaugh ruled that the Rams had to provide PSL holders in St. Louis the right to buy season tickets in Los Angeles or give them a refund.

Three similar Rams season tickets class action lawsuits have been consolidated with McAllister’s case.

McAllister is represented by Thomas P. Rosenfeld, Mark C. Goldenberg and Kevin P. Green of Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli PC; Anthony S. Bruning, Anthony S. Bruning Jr. and Edward M. Roth of The Bruning Law Firm; and Richard S. Cornfeld.

The St. Louis Rams Relocation Class Action Lawsuit is Ronald McAllister v. The St. Louis Rams LLC, Case No. 4:16-cv-00172, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

UPDATE: On April 12, 2018, a federal judge denied a motion by the NFL Rams last week, attempting to delay a class action lawsuit over season ticket licensing. In addition, the judge ordered the organization to produce pricing data related to the team’s move from St. Louis to Los Angeles.

UPDATE 2: On Dec. 5, 2018, ticketholders managed to secure a $24 million class action settlement over allegations that the NFL failed to properly repay purchasers after moving its Rams from St. Louis to Los Angeles in 2015.

UPDATE 3: February 2019, the St. Louis Rams personal seat license class action settlement is now open. Click here to file a claim.