SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 18 – The United States versus Live Nation trial began
on March 2 with jury selection, before U.S. District Court
for the Southern District of New York Judge Arun
Subramanian. Then after a week of testimony it
went on pause, and the DOJ and now several states
settlement with Live Nation.
On March 16 the trial picked back up, with
NYS' Hatch questioning AEG's Marciano followed by a
grilling cross by Live Nations' Marriott, emphasizing the
size and actions of AEG. Then the states called Live
Nations Bob Roux, who repeatedly said he didn't remember
and couldn't confirm.
On March 17 the states put on Ben Baker,
whose Slack messages about robbing customers blind were
unsealed amid Press requests. Baker called his language
immature; there was no cross. CEO Rapino is due on the
stand on the morning of March 19...
On March 18, a former Ticketmaster technie,
Edward Khoury now of Jump Platforms, on TM's ancient
systems, and a defensive Mike Evans unaware of Rapino's
threats to Abbamondi - expect more on that on March 18.
March 18 extra on "war room(s)" on X for
Subscribers here
and Substack here
On March 5, Judge
Subramanian granted Inner City Press first motion to
unseal, here
On March 6, Inner City
Press was in the courtroom at 8:30 am, and spoke to push
for further unsealing, including of demonstratives. See
new book, "TicketMonster: US v Live Nation 1," ebook,
audiobook and paperback here.
On March 9, amid news of a
US settlement, Inner City Press filed a second request
to unseal, here.
Then it ran in and live tweeted Judge Subramanian
questioning the settlement, summoning Rapino in on March
10. At 4:20 pm the US - which says Live Nation is
selling off things it is divesting - filed its term
sheet, which we are putting on DocumentCloud here
At 11 pm on March 9, Live
Nation opposed Inner City Press' motion to unseal, here.
Before midnight, Inner City Press replied, here.
On March 10 Judge Subramanian told the states, led by
five, to stay in the courthouse for the week, with the
prospect of a March 16 restart of trial, states versus
Live Nation, hanging over them. Inner City Press managed
to asked Michael Rapino if he was staying; he said Yes.
But what about the unsealing?
Near midnight on March 11, some documents were unsealed,
and Inner City Press tweeted-out photos and links to
CourtListener.
More from March 10 on X
for Subscribers here
and Substack here
Back on March 4 Inner City Press did a vlog,
after filing to unseal, full letter
on DocumentCloud here
On March 5, greanted.
More March 2 details, and the names, on X for Subscribers
here
and Substack here
On March 3, three opening statements -
David Dahlquist out of Chicago for the US, Jonathan Hatch
for NY and the other states, and Latham's Marriott for
Live Nation. The first witness was supposed to take the
stand after that, but Judge Subramanian cited technical
issues and sent the jurors home.
More March 3 detailing including on
upcoming witnesses on X for Subscribers here
and Substack here
The case is United States of America et al v. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. et al., 24-cv-3973 (Subramanian)
