Oregonian sues Stubhub

JuliaPDX · Post by **JuliaPDX** » January 16, 2008 9:12 pm

From KGW.com
Oregon Springsteen fan sues ticket reseller

05:28 PM PST on Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Associated Press

A woman who initially failed to land tickets for Bruce Springsteen's upcoming concert in Portland has filed a class-action lawsuit against StubHub Inc., the nation's largest secondary ticket seller, and its parent, eBay.

Sharon Fehrs, a huge fan of The Boss, tried to get four tickets to the March 28 show at the Rose Garden. She got on her computer as tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. As Fehrs tried and failed to find more than one seat, she noticed tickets already available for sale on StubHub. They were going for much more than their $95 face value, said her lawyer, John Neupert.

The lawsuit, filed in Portland, alleges that StubHub and eBay violated the city's anti-scalping law. She's asking the court to stop StubHub's practice and award damages to customers who opt into her lawsuit.

Fehrs' husband eventually bought two general-admission tickets to Springsteen's show at face value, but she decided to press forward with the suit.

"She believes that StubHub and eBay operate an illegal secondary market that deprives people of an equitable opportunity to buy tickets at a reasonable price," Neupert said.

A StubHub spokeswoman said the company does not comment on pending legal matters.

Originally, tickets to Springsteen's concert in Portland went on sale on comcasttix.com for $65 to $95. Fans now can find them on StubHub for $103 to $1,000.

Ticket reselling sites such as StubHub contend they are not ticket sellers but merely platforms where fans can buy and sell tickets, and set their own prices.

Though rarely enforced, Portland's anti-scalping ordinance bars anyone from reselling tickets for events at the Rose Garden and city-owned venues for more than the original retail price. Violators face a maximum $500 fine and six months in jail.

Big Jimmy · Post by **Big Jimmy** » January 16, 2008 9:28 pm

one persons loss is another mans gain.

That person did not have to spend the extra money for the tickets, there are plenty of people who are willing to.

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » January 16, 2008 9:48 pm

Big Jimmy wrote:one persons loss is another mans gain.

That person did not have to spend the extra money for the tickets, there are plenty of people who are willing to.

maybe you missed the part about it being illegal to charge more than face value for tickets to events at city facilities in Portland...

Big Jimmy · Post by **Big Jimmy** » January 16, 2008 10:07 pm

RinglingRingling wrote:
Big Jimmy wrote:one persons loss is another mans gain.

That person did not have to spend the extra money for the tickets, there are plenty of people who are willing to.
maybe you missed the part about it being illegal to charge more than face value for tickets to events at city facilities in Portland...

It's illegal to do a lot of things, such as drive even after you have had a few drinks.

Also in Oregon .......

* Dishes must drip dry.

* The "Peer Review Statute" prohibits you from finding out details of any written or oral discussion about your medical treatment. Not even a court of law can. All you can access is what the doctor or nurse voluntarily records in your chart.

* It is illegal to whisper "dirty" things in your lover's ear during sex.

* Ice cream may not be eaten on Sundays.

* It is illegal to buy or sell marijuana, but it is legal to smoke it on your own property.

* One may not bathe without wearing "suitable clothing," i.e., that which covers one's body from neck to knee.

* Canned corn is not to be used as bait for fishing.

* It is illegal to show movies or attend a car race on Sundays. (Eugene)

* It is legal to conduct a horse race or a symphony concert. (Eugene)

* Juggling is strictly prohibited without a license. (Hood River)

* It's illegal to walk down a sidewalk and knock a snakes head off with your cane. (Klamath River)

* Ministers are forbidden from eating garlic or onions before delivering a sermon. (Marion)

* One may not box with a kangaroo. (Myrtle Creek)

* No one may attempt to cause someone to think that their property may be subjected to "offensive physical contact". (Portland)

* Minors may not enter a room where a "social game" is being played. (Portland)

* Trucks may not be parked on the street. (Portland)

* Riders of sleds may not attach themselves to passing cars. (Portland)

* Persons may not pass through a "traffic congestion thoroughfare" more than twice per night. (Portland)

* It's against the law for a wedding ceremony to be performed at a skating rink. (Portland)

* People may not whistle underwater. (Portland)

* You cannot wear roller skates in restrooms. (Portland)

mjeischen · Post by **mjeischen** » January 16, 2008 10:27 pm

JIMMY! God we all miss you so. Good to see you when this topic surfaces its always good to have an experts intelligent opinion. Hannah said hello by the way.

The good news is she got 2 of the 4 tickets at face. Based on principle she's suing anyway which I like.

JuliaPDX · Post by **JuliaPDX** » January 16, 2008 11:08 pm

mjeischen wrote:JIMMY! God we all miss you so. Good to see you when this topic surfaces its always good to have an experts intelligent opinion. Hannah said hello by the way.

The good news is she got 2 of the 4 tickets at face. Based on principle she's suing anyway which I like.

I agree about the principle issue.. I'm sick of the mark up... and isn't our other Jimmy tired of it too (you know the guy we like to listen to..who makes the music we live for

)

mjeischen · Post by **mjeischen** » January 16, 2008 11:48 pm

JuliaPDX wrote:
mjeischen wrote:JIMMY! God we all miss you so. Good to see you when this topic surfaces its always good to have an experts intelligent opinion. Hannah said hello by the way.

The good news is she got 2 of the 4 tickets at face. Based on principle she's suing anyway which I like.
I agree about the principle issue.. I'm sick of the mark up... and isn't our other Jimmy tired of it too (you know the guy we like to listen to..who makes the music we live for )

I wouldn't say I live for his music but I like him plenty enough

jeepndd · Post by **jeepndd** » February 1, 2008 1:53 pm

Good for her, I hope she wins. There is no law worse than an unenforced law!

ParrotheadPeteNJ · Post by **ParrotheadPeteNJ** » March 5, 2008 1:17 pm

eBay will argue both that they are not located in Oregon and that they are just a conduit between two parties-and win. Stubhub can argue that it's servers are not located in California (as well as the seller) and win. Baseless lawsuit. What did occur recently is Ticketmaster receiving an injunction against a software company that allowed brokers to bypass the Ticketmaster security words and order 99 pairs of tickets at once.

12vmanRick · Post by **12vmanRick** » March 5, 2008 1:55 pm

I hope she wins and sets a presidence.

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Oregonian sues Stubhub

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