States urged to settle Live Nation claims after US strikes deal

A New York federal judge is urging over two dozen states to settle their antitrust claims against Ticketmaster and its parent company this week after the Justice Department reached a deal and dropped out of an ongoing trial

NEW YORK -- A New York federal judge on Tuesday urged over two dozen states to settle their antitrust claims against Ticketmaster and its parent company this week after the U.S. Justice Department reached a deal and dropped out of an ongoing trial.

But Dan Wall, a lawyer for Ticketmaster’s parent, Live Nation Entertainment, told Judge Arun Subramanian at a hearing in Manhattan that the chance all states would settle their claims by Friday was “about zero.”

He said he based his assessment on the nature of discussions between the ticketing and entertainment giants and the states over the past week. The states don't all want the same kinds of relief, he said.

“There are too many parties,” Wall said. “We want to stick the landing here. Get it down. And we won't stick the landing by Friday.”

At another point, Wall said: “There is zero chance we get this done by Friday.”