Score one for MLW.
MLW is currently locked in a legal battle with WWE. The lawsuit asserts that WWE monopolized and attempted to monopolize the market for the sale or licensing of media rights to professional wrestling events in the United States.
In a new statement issued by Kasowitz Benson Torres, LLP, it was announced that WWE's motion to dismiss MLW's amended suit has been denied. As a result, MLW's claims will now proceed to discovery.
From MLW:
Kasowitz Defeats Motion To Dismiss MLW Media’s Antitrust Suit Against World Wrestling Entertainment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEW YORK, NY - Kasowitz Benson Torres, on behalf of professional wrestling promotion company MLW Media, has defeated a motion to dismiss MLW’s amended complaint asserting federal antitrust and state law unfair competition claims against World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for monopolizing and attempting to monopolize the market for the sale or licensing of media rights to professional wrestling events in the United States. MLW’s claims will now proceed to discovery.
In denying the motion, Judge Edward J. Davila, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, held that MLW had sufficiently alleged all four elements of its antitrust claims— relevant market, market power, anticompetitive conduct and antitrust injury-and declined to dismiss the state law claims.
Marc E. Kasowitz stated “We are pleased with Judge Davila’s well-reasoned opinion and look forward to recovering the substantial damages that MLW has suffered as a result of WWE’s many years of egregious anticompetitive behavior.”
The Kasowitz Benson Torres team representing MLW Media is led by partner Marc E. Kasowitz and includes partners Christine A. Montenegro, Nicholas A. Rendino and Jason S. Takenouchi.
On June 15, San Jose Judge Edward J. Davil of the The United States District Court, Northern Division of California, issued a 14-page ruling, shooting down WWE's motion attempting to dismiss the amended version of MLW's lawsuit against the company.
Fightful will continue to update fans on the lawsuit as more is known.
