Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Jets Fan's Cheating Lawsuit Rejected By Courts
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 20, 2010
Modified May 20, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 20, 2010
Modified May 20, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
In a story we imagine the Post would lovingly title something like "Football Fan's Lawsuit Fumbles at Goal Line," the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court dismissal of the lawsuit by Carl Mayer against the New England Patriots. The Patriots had been caught cheating during a game with the Jets in 2007, and Mayar sued them for $185 million on behalf of all the fans who paid to see the two teams play since Coach Bill Belichick took over in 2000.
The court's decision frowned on the Patriots and the NFL, but stopped short of holding the team fiscally responsible: "We do not condone the conduct on the part of the Patriots and the team's head coach, and we likewise refrain from assessing whether the NFL's sanctions (and its alleged destruction of the videotapes themselves) were otherwise appropriate," Judge Robert Cowen wrote for the court.
Lee Marshall, a litigation partner at Bryan Cave LLP in San Francisco, explained that the "courts are basically closing doors to allegations that rules violations" justify lawsuits by fans. "If decisions went the other way, leagues would be defending lawsuits all over. In baseball, it could result in fans suing over steroids violations."
Bruce Afran, one of the lawyers working with Mayer, said the ruling "invites professional teams to cheat, without liability to fans who pay to support them. It strikes us as very strange that one can spend tens of thousands of dollars for season tickets and have no right to be protected from fraud." They are planning to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Tagged
cheating
court
football
jets
lawsuit
patriots
spygate
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
Nearly 1 million in the city risk losing benefits as a result of new federal restrictions.
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 12:43 p.m. ET
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
A 26-year-old died after being shot on the platform at the Midtown station. Commuters are rattled.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
News
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
A 26-year-old died after being shot on the platform at the Midtown station. Commuters are rattled.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
These are the NYC neighborhoods that will get free 2-K next fall
By
Karen Yi
Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'
By
James Ramsay
Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest
By
David Brand
and
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .