ESPN reports that lawsuits filed as a result of the alleged fraud in the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather fight this past May will be sent to California. Judge R. Gary Klausner will decide class action status prior to a trial date is set and the court may also decide whether to consolidate the 32 plus cases filed against Pacquiao for not revealing an injury prior to the May 2nd fight.
As you recall, Manny Pacquiao revealed post-fight that he was suffering from a shoulder injury and was denied a pain-relieving injection by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. That piece of information was not revealed in Pacquiao’s pre-fight questionnaire or through any other means. Thus, individuals that bought the $100 PPV claimed that the promoters misrepresented the fight since Pacquiao was not healthy.
Last Friday, a panel of judges decided that that claims filed in several states will be heard in the Central District of California (Los Angeles) where Pacquiao’s claimed injury occurred. It is also where Pacquiao makes his U.S. residence. The panel also discussed the possibility of consolidating the number of related lawsuits.
ESPN also quotes the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation which stated that Pacquiao’s rotator-cuff injury would require “significant factual, and possibly expert, discovery.”
There are at least 32 lawsuits filed across the United States related to the fight claiming that the boxer should have, or perhaps had a duty, to report the injury.
Most of the lawsuits name Pacquiao and his promoter Top Rank. Some also name Mayweather, HBO and Showtime.
Payout Perspective:
In addition to the antitrust lawsuits between Al Haymon and Golden Boy and Top Rank in the Central District, it looks like it will get the Pacquiao lawsuits. Short of a settlement, we may see some interesting information come out regarding the factual information behind who knew what, when. Consolidating the cases and class certification are different issues at this point but look to be addressed by the Central District of California. Defense lawyers claim that this lawsuit is without merit. We will keep you posted.
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