(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) —
"I feel vindicated," said Jerry Mickelson, co-owner of JamSports and Entertainment, after a federal jury found Clear Channel Communications illegally used its entertainment industry clout to block JamSports from promoting motorcycle races and awarded it more than $90 million in damages, including $73 million in punitive damages. "This is a win for all the little guys."
The jury verdict upheld charges by JamSports, that Clear Channel intimidated the American Motorcycle Association into reneging on a multi-year agreement under which JamSports was to promote Supercross motorcycle events nationwide beginning in 2003.
"The jury's verdict sends a clear message that companies must act responsibly and ethically in their business dealings. Illegal corporate bullying simply will not be tolerated," said Jeffrey Singer, who represented JamSports. "We are proud that our partnership with JamSports enabled us to bring this case to a jury and that the members of the jury quickly recognized Clear Channel's business practices were unfair and heavy handed."
While several previous suits against Clear Channel have been settled prior to trial, this is the first time a competitor of Clear Channel has been able to present its case to a jury.
A significant amount of JamSports' case involved the introduction of Clear Channel's internal emails into evidence. Those emails recommended the company take extremely aggressive action to block JamSports and even suggested that disc jockeys at two Clear Channel radio stations should badmouth the company. — Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner
CCE To Appeal Jam Verdict
(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — A federal jury found on March 21 that Clear Channel Communications did not violate antitrust laws in its competition with Jam Productions. The case was the first time a jury was able to examine such allegations against Clear Channel in thorough detail.
"This jury's decision that Clear Channel did not violate antitrust laws sends a powerful signal to those who seek to wrongfully accuse us in the future," said Andrew Levin, executive vice president and chief legal officer of Clear Channel Communications.
"We are, of course, disappointed that the jury agreed with JamSports' other claim and failed to see this case for what it actually was — a disgruntled competitor that could not succeed in the marketplace and so took its case to a courtroom. We intend to vigorously appeal that decision and expect the appellate court to agree that Clear Channel's actions were within the law." — Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
