MLB seeks pre-trial appeal & plaintiffs seek class certification in anti-trust broadcasting litigation

On Wednesday August 27, 2014, the MLB¹ filed a motion for immediate interlocutory appeal² with Judge Scheindlin in the Southern District of New York, seeking permission to appeal her recent order³ in their current antitrust litigation case.

The MLB’s geographically based broadcasting restrictions are currently being challenged in the SDNY by irate fans who are tired of blackout restrictions and the high prices of streaming games online. Earlier this month, Judge Scheindlin ruled against the MLB’s motion for summary judgment, holding that the oft-cited antitrust exemption did not apply to the MLB, allowing the claims to go forward to trial.