Robert Berlinger, Danny Collins, and David Stockton, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated v. Viagogo Entertainment, Inc.

CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedJanuary 27, 2026
Docket1:25-cv-04380
StatusUnknown

This text of Robert Berlinger, Danny Collins, and David Stockton, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated v. Viagogo Entertainment, Inc. (Robert Berlinger, Danny Collins, and David Stockton, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated v. Viagogo Entertainment, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Robert Berlinger, Danny Collins, and David Stockton, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated v. Viagogo Entertainment, Inc., (S.D.N.Y. 2026).

Opinion

| DOCUMENT ELECTRONICALLY FILED UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DOC #: SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK DATE FILED: 1/27/2026 ROBERT BERLINGER, DANNY COLLINS, and DAVID STOCKTON, on behalf of 25 CV 4380 (VM) themselves and all others similarly Situated, DECISION AND ORDER Plaintiffs, - against - VIAGOGO ENTERTAINMENT, INC., Defendant.

VICTOR MARRERO, United States District Judge. In this class action, plaintiffs Robert Berlinger, Danny Collins, and David Stockton, on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated (collectively, “Berlinger”), allege that defendant viagogo Entertainment Inc. (“Viagogo”) violated New York consumer protection laws - and similar laws in California, New Jersey, and Colorado - by using a “bait- and-switch” scheme on its website to entice consumers to purchase live entertainment tickets. (“First Amended Complaint” or “FAC,” Dkt. No. 10.) Viagogo now moves to compel individual arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) and stay the claims pending resolution of that arbitration. (See Dkt. No. 17.) For the reasons set forth below, Viagogo’s motion is GRANTED.

I. BACKGROUND1 0F Viagogo is an online ticket exchange website – also known as a secondary ticket marketplace - that facilitates ticket sales and marketing for live entertainment events. (See FAC ¶ 18; Declaration of James Wright in support of Viagogo’s motion, “Wright Decl.,” Dkt. No. 19 ¶ 3.) Viagogo does not own or set prices for the tickets listed on its website but instead allows current ticket holders to determine prices and offer their tickets to buyers. (See Wright Decl. ¶ 4.) For each transaction, Viagogo charges a fee to the seller and buyer. (See id. ¶ 5.) Accordingly, the total price of a ticket is divided into a base price and the additional transaction fees. (See FAC ¶ 21.) To complete a transaction on Viagogo’s platform, a buyer must advance through a purchase flow process. First, users select the event and the number of tickets they intend to purchase. (See FAC ¶ 24; Wright Decl. ¶ 7.) Users are next

directed to a seating chart of the venue or location, where they can choose among seating options. (See FAC ¶ 24; Wright Decl. ¶¶ 8-9.) At this stage, Viagogo displays only the base price of the ticket set by the seller – an amount that does

1 The Court draws the following facts from the First Amended Complaint and the supporting declarations and exhibits attached to the parties’ briefs.

2 not include the additional fees Viagogo charges for facilitating the transaction.2 (See FAC ¶ 24; Wright Decl. ¶ 1F 9.) After users select the tickets, they are presented a pop- up window stating, “You have 10 minutes to complete your purchase” and “The price of your ticket will be locked during this time.” (FAC ¶ 24; Wright Decl. ¶ 10.) If users press the “Start” button, they are then prompted to select a payment method and input their billing information. (See FAC ¶ 24; Wright Decl. ¶ 11.) While completing these steps, the ten- minute countdown timer is visible at the top of the screen and appears on the webpage tab. (See FAC ¶ 24.) The price displayed continues to reflect the base ticket price without the additional fees. (See id.) When users select a payment method and enter their billing information, they are presented a checkout screen displaying the total price – the previously displayed base ticket price in addition to the transaction fees – and are directed to input payment

information. (See FAC ¶ 24; Wright Decl. ¶ 12.) If users navigate away from the purchase flow, a pop-up appears with a reminder to “Secure your tickets!” above the

2 In some states – including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, and Tennessee – Viagogo displays the total price (base price plus transaction fees) during the initial stages of the purchase flow. (See FAC ¶ 35.) 3 countdown timer. (FAC ¶ 24.) If users fail to complete the purchase within ten minutes, they are redirected to the event page and must complete the steps again. (See id.) If users do enter payment information, they can then click the “Review Order” button that appears above language indicating that the

user will not yet be charged. (Id.) Finally, users are presented with a large green “Buy Now” button on the checkout screen with the following statement displayed directly above: “By clicking the button below you acknowledge and accept our terms and conditions and privacy policy.” (Wright Decl. ¶ 12.) Both the “terms and conditions” and the “privacy policy” are hyperlinked to the relevant documents. (Id. ¶ 13.) If users opt to review the “terms and conditions,” they are presented with a Global User Agreement (the “Agreement”), which discloses on the first page, in all-capitalized, bold text that the Agreement “CONTAINS AN AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE” requiring users “TO SUBMIT CLAIMS . . . AGAINST [VIAGOGO] TO

BINDING AND FINAL ARBITRATION” unless they choose to opt out. (Wright Decl. ¶¶ 13-14; “Agreement,” Dkt. No. 19, Ex. A, § 1.) The first-page language also provides in bold, capitalized text that a user “WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED TO PURSUE CLAIMS AGAINST [VIAGOGO] ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE 4 ACTION OR PROCEEDING.” (Id.) A later subsection of the Agreement details the “Opt-Out Procedure” and hyperlinks to a form that users must complete to opt out of arbitration. (Wright Decl. ¶ 14; Agreement § 23.1.) The named plaintiffs in this case – collectively

“Berlinger,” as noted - are three individuals residing in New Jersey, Colorado, and California who used Viagogo’s ticket marketplace to purchase tickets to events located in New Jersey, Switzerland, and Washington. (See FAC ¶¶ 39-40, 53- 54, 67-68.) They bring this class action on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated. (See id. ¶ 81.) Berlinger alleges that Viagogo’s purchase flow relies on “bait-and-switch” tactics to “lure consumers into purchasing tickets.” (Id. ¶ 1.) Berlinger contends that Viagogo “advertises misleading low initial ticket prices that do not include added fees . . . to entice consumers to click through many screens in its purchase flow,” and lists the total

transaction amount – including fees – only on the final checkout window. (Id.) Berlinger further asserts that Viagogo pressures ticket buyers by displaying the ten-minute countdown timers. (See id. ¶ 4.) Berlinger alleges that, as a result of Viagogo’s “false advertising” of low ticket prices, they “purchased tickets they would not have otherwise 5 bought and paid fees they would not have otherwise paid.” (Id. ¶ 9.) All plaintiffs, on behalf of the nationwide class, bring claims for alleged violations of New York Arts and Cultural Affairs Law § 25.07 and New York General Business Law § 349

and § 350. (See FAC ¶¶ 95-140.) Individual plaintiffs, and on behalf of the subclasses, bring claims for alleged violations of California’s False Advertising Law (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17500), California’s Unfair Competition Law (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200), California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1750 et seq.), New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act (N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 56:8-1 et seq.), and Colorado’s Consumer Protection Act (C.R.S.A. § 6-1-101 et seq.). (See FAC ¶¶ 141-180.) Berlinger filed the First Amended Complaint in this action on July 10, 2025. (See FAC.) On August 8 and August 29, the parties exchanged pre-motion letters pursuant to this

Court’s Individual Practice II.B. (See Dkt. Nos. 12-13.) On November 5, Viagogo filed its motion to compel arbitration (see Dkt. No. 17), supported by a memorandum of law. (See “Mem.,” Dkt. No.

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Robert Berlinger, Danny Collins, and David Stockton, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated v. Viagogo Entertainment, Inc., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/robert-berlinger-danny-collins-and-david-stockton-on-behalf-of-nysd-2026.