Ticketmaster Sued For Service Charges

A second class-action lawsuit has been filed against Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. and Ticketmaster Canada Ltd.

The $250-million suit was filed on Thursday on behalf of Canadians who purchased tickets from Ticketmaster for an event anywhere in the country other than Ontario and were charged a convenience fee or additional service charges on top of the issued price of the ticket.

It follows a $510-million class-action suit filed on Monday on behalf of people who purchased tickets for an event in Ontario through Ticketmaster or TicketsNow. This expansion of the suit alleges any transaction for the purchase of tickets via Ticketmaster or Ticketmaster Canada is governed by Ontario laws, which preclude selling tickets at a higher price than at which they were first issued.

The terms of use on Ticketmaster Canada's website state any disputes involving events or tickets for an event in Canada consent to having the dispute "governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario."

The lawsuit was instigated by an Edmonton man who visited Ticketmaster Canada's website to purchase one ticket on Nov. 21, 2008 to see David Byrne perform at Edmonton's Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium on Feb. 22. The same man purchased four tickets from the site to see Jay Leno perform at Edmonton's River Cree Resort & Casino on Feb. 26.

The suit claims the Ticketmaster website listed the Byrne ticket price as $55.50, but the plaintiff was also charged with and paid a $1.65 building/facility charge, a $10.25 convenience charge and a $4.35 order processing fee. That meant his tickets ended up costing $71.75.

It further claims the Leno tickets had a face value of $79 each, but the plaintiff was charged with and paid a convenience charge of five dollars per ticket and a $2.50 order processing charge, resulting in a final cost of $338.50, or approximately $84.60 per ticket.

The suit alleges Ticketmaster Canada sold the Plaintiff five tickets at a price higher than that at which they were first issued, which the law firms of Sutts, Strosberg LLP and Branch McMaster interpret as violating Ontario's Ticket Speculation Act, which prohibits the sale of tickets for a price higher than at which they were first issued.

Class members who are included in the first class-action lawsuit may not participate in this one. But those interested in adding their names to the new suit are asked to visit this site to find out more information and relay personal details outlining why they believe they should be involved.