Madison Square Garden CAN ban lawyers from concerts and theatrical performances, appeals court rules

Lawyers who sued Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. may be barred from concerts and stage shows at the stadium and other company venues, even if they purchased valid tickets, according to an appeals court ruling in New York. on Tuesday.

The decision to quash a preliminary injunction is a victory for MSG President James Dolan, owner of the NBA’s Knicks and NHL’s Rangers, in his various ongoing legal battles with ticket scalpers and the state board. of alcoholic beverages.

The ruling does not apply to Knicks and Rangers games, where lawyers suing MSG were already barred.

The public controversy began after attorney Larry Hutcher filed a lawsuit against MSG on behalf of season ticket holders, whose passes were banned by the company after they were accused of improperly reselling tickets.

Hutcher, a Knicks season ticket holder for 47 years, found out in September that he was banned from MSG, along with 60 lawyers from his form.

The ruling is the latest win for Knicks and Rangers owner James Dolan (center).

Other lawyers have come forward with stories about the blocking of concerts, sporting events and shows, including the Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular.

The policy potentially affects thousands of lawyers at dozens of firms and is enforced through the use of technology that scans the faces of people entering MSG-owned venues and matches them against a database of lawyers from banned firms.

Hutcher and the firm sued MSG in October, arguing that it had already paid $18,000 for its 2022-23 season ticket package.

In November, Manhattan Judge Lyle Frank awarded partial victory to Hutcher and other attorneys for Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP, who were granted the right to attend musical and stage performances at the Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and the Beacon Theater if they showed up. with a valid ticket.

“The court takes judicial note that there is only one Radio City Music Hall, one Beacon Theatre, and only one Madison Square Garden,” Frank wrote. “As such, the plaintiff is entitled to injunctive relief.”

Frank added: ‘…there appears to be no rational basis for the policy instituted by [Madison Square Garden] except to discourage lawyers from filing a lawsuit against them.

The ruling did not apply to attorney bans at Knicks or Rangers games at the Garden, but Hutcher is appealing that decision.

The ruling did not apply to attorney bans at Knicks or Rangers games at the Garden.

On Tuesday, a Manhattan court reversed Frank’s ruling, arguing that his preliminary injunction should never have been issued because the civil rights law cited in the case only awards plaintiffs monetary compensation.

The bottom line, Hutcher told Bloomberg, is that MSG will have a $500 liability each time it denies access to a concert or show.

“Basically what the court is asking us to do is go to the event and get a check for $500 every time we’re denied admission,” he told Bloomberg, indicating that he plans to do just that. “I think what this basically means is that this is something the legislature should address, but there are a lot of people at my firm who are going to make a lot of money and can’t make it to events.”

An MSG spokesperson told Bloomberg that the company is “very pleased with today’s appeal ruling.”

The policy caught the attention of New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office is investigating the use of facial recognition technology to enforce the ban.

The attorney general’s office said in a letter to MSG Entertainment that the ban, and the company’s use of facial recognition technology to enforce it, may violate anti-discrimination laws and may deter lawyers from taking on cases. such as sexual harassment or employment discrimination claims against the company.

The New York state liquor board got involved in the dispute in February, accusing MSG of four violations and saying the policy violates laws that require venues with liquor licenses to allow access to the general public.

The controversy began after attorney Larry Hutcher (pictured) filed a lawsuit against MSG

Lawyers Suing Area MSG Already Banned From Manhattan Arena

In response, MSG announced that it sued the New York State Alcoholic Beverage Authority earlier this month over the agency’s threats to suspend the company’s alcohol licenses.

“This gangster-like government organization has finally stood up to an entity that will not cringe from its outrageous abuses,” Dolan said in a statement. “While others who have been subjected to this harassment may have been forced into submission or silence, we are taking a stand on behalf of our fans and the many small businesses that have long been subject to SLA corruption.” .

The company claimed the SLA misrepresented the rules by requiring places that sell liquor to be open to the public, while nightclubs and bars have “much more exclusionary policies.”

In January, the usually media-shy Dolan addressed the controversy on Good Day New York.

“If you are suing us, we just ask that you not come until you are done with your argument with us, the end,” Dolan told Good Day New York. “And yes, we are using facial recognition to enforce that.”

When asked if he would retire from this position, Dolan emphatically replied: “Not at all.”

Rangers games are another event where lawyers suing MSG may be banned.