Judge Overturns Jury Verdict In NFL’s Sunday Ticket Lawsuit

Judge Philip Gutierrez, who oversaw the case, said the jury failed to follow his instructions in determining damages.

A federal judge overturned the jury verdict in the NFL’s Sunday Ticket lawsuit.

Earlier this summer, a jury ruled that the league violated federal antitrust laws by selling its Sunday Ticket Package only on DIRECTV at an inflated price, which set the league to be potentially liable for over $14 billion in damages.

Judge Philip Gutierrez, who oversaw the case, said the jury failed to follow his instructions in determining damages.

The jury found the NFL liable for over $4.6 billion in damages to the residential class and nearly $97 million in damages to the commercial class. Those totals can be tripled under federal antitrust laws.

However, Gutierrez said the jury came up with their own totals in damages and was not based on the evidence and reasonable inferences. He said the jury’s decision was more guesswork or speculation.

No new trial has been determined at this time.