Court in British Columbia approves settlement in class-action lawsuit against Vancouver Whitecaps

In a recent development, the B.C. Supreme Court has given its seal of approval to a settlement of $475,000 in a class-action lawsuit against the Vancouver Whitecaps and Major League Soccer. The lawsuit stemmed from an incident in 2024 when star players, notably Lionel Messi, were advertised to play in a much-anticipated game but failed to make an appearance. Justice Andrew Majawa, in a groundbreaking decision, deemed the settlement fair and fitting for the circumstances surrounding the case, which involved alleged misleading promotions leading up to the Whitecaps’ match against Inter Miami.

The plaintiff behind the lawsuit contended that the Whitecaps deliberately played on the anticipation of fans regarding the star players’ participation. The lawsuit was founded on various grounds including breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and violations of provincial consumer laws as well as federal competition regulations. In response, the Whitecaps maintained that they had no authority over Miami’s choice not to field Messi and the other players in the game.
The team, although not admitting any fault, agreed as part of the settlement to improve the transparency of its ticketing policies on its website and make it explicit that the appearance of specific players in matches is not guaranteed.

Furthermore, the settlement also includes a provision for the donation of the sum, minus legal fees, to three sports-related charities in British Columbia. This significant sum of money will also facilitate alterations to the Whitecaps’ ticketing procedures. A portion of the settlement will be channeled to various charitable organizations. The chosen organizations include KidSport BC, known for providing financial aid for children facing challenges in sports fees, Canada Scores, which offers complimentary after-school sports activities, and the Boys and Girls Club of the B.C.’s South Coast.

Justice Majawa addressed some objections to the settlement, noting that a few were based on unverified online rumors, with one even seemingly generated by artificial intelligence, making references to “AI hallucinations.” He stated that the settlement may not be flawless, but it adequately addresses the multifaceted nature of the claim and the potential defenses available to the defendants. The judge also approved legal fees of approximately a third of the settlement amount and awarded a $1,500 honorarium to the representative plaintiff, Ho Chun, who had faced online defamation and baseless accusations that tarnished his reputation.

In conclusion, the settlement marks a crucial step in resolving the class-action lawsuit against the Vancouver Whitecaps, bringing closure to the dispute over the non-appearance of star players and underscoring the importance of transparency in promotional activities and ticketing processes within professional sports.