Baseball Rooftop Club Promoter Faces Suit Over Internet Ads

This posting was written by William Zale, Editor of CCH Advertising Law Guide.

The proprietor of a “rooftop club” for viewing Chicago Cubs baseball games (Wrigley Done Right) stated Lanham Act claims of false advertising and false designation of origin against a promoter of competing venues (Ivy League Club and Wrigley Rooftop Club), the federal district court in Chicago has ruled.

False Advertising

An Internet advertisement that promoted the availability of services at the Ivy League club when it was under construction and not operating could constitute false advertising, the court held. From January 2008 until some time in 2009, the promoter allegedly advertised the availability of services at the Ivy League Club on its website, despite the fact that the facility was closed for renovation through the 2009 baseball season and lacked a license required for hosting patrons.

The promoter allegedly deceived consumers into booking reservations for inferior services by accepting reservations and later providing tickets at other facilities with less favorable viewing locations than the Ivy League Club’s.

The Ivy League Club allegedly booked a significant number of reservations as a result of these misleading advertisements, and the diversion of sales allegedly injured Wrigley Done Right’s business.

The promoter contended that construction delays did not amount to fraud and that website disclaimers were posted. However, the advertising and selling of seats at a nonoperating venue for a more than a year and a half went beyond mere “construction delay,” according to the court.

False Designation of Origin

The promoter’s advertising for the Wrigley Rooftop Club could constitute a false designation of origin, the court ruled.

The promoter and the Wrigley Rooftop Club allegedly sponsored an advertisement on the website ballparkrooftops.com featuring a photo of Wrigley Done Right’s building next to a link to the Wrigley Rooftop Club’s website. Wrigley Done Right allegedly was injured as a result of the misrepresentation because sales were diverted to the Wrigley Rooftop Club.

State Law

Claims under the Illinois Deceptive Trade Practices Act and Illinois Consumer Fraud Act would stand or fall based on the outcome of Lanham Act claims of false designation of origin and false advertising, the court added.

The July 12 opinion in Bluestar Management LLC v. Annex Club, LLC will be reported at CCH Advertising Law Guide ¶63,916

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