The Short Answer
- Federal Judge Laura Taylor Swain dismissed the antitrust class action in March 2026.
- Plaintiffs lacked standing — they could not prove they overpaid due to the alleged monopoly.
- The suit named Fanatics, MLB, NBA, NFL, and their player unions.
- Another case could be filed; the dismissal was on procedural grounds, not the merits.
The Lawsuit: Jones et al. v. Fanatics
On July 15, 2025, law firm DiCello Levitt filed a sweeping federal class action in the Southern District of New York on behalf of plaintiff Phillip Jones and all similarly situated consumers. The suit alleged an anticompetitive scheme by Fanatics, Inc., MLB, the NBA, the NFL, and their respective player unions (MLBPA, NBPA, NFLPA) to monopolize the trading card industry.
The core claim: by funneling exclusive licenses to Fanatics, the leagues and unions created a monopoly that inflated card prices and reduced consumer choice. Five plaintiffs — Robert Scaturo, Scott Bubnick, Joseph Davidov, Steven Mardakhaev, and Jonathan Madar — said they overpaid for cards as a result.
The Dismissal: March 2026
In March 2026, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain dismissed the class action. Fanatics called the suit "baseless." The judge ruled that the plaintiffs failed to prove they had actually overpaid for trading cards as a result of the alleged monopoly scheme.
Crucially, the dismissal was on procedural grounds — lack of standing and failure to show concrete harm — not on the merits of whether Fanatics actually holds monopoly power. The door remains open for a better-pleaded case.
The Standing Problem
In antitrust law, plaintiffs must show they are the right people to sue — that they suffered a direct, concrete injury from the alleged conduct. Here, the plaintiffs struggled to draw a clear line between Fanatics' market position and the exact prices they paid. One plaintiff bought a Fanatics NBA card in October 2025 — five months after the lawsuit was filed — which the court said did not help establish standing retroactively.
What Comes Next
The dismissal does not mean Fanatics is legally cleared forever. It means this particular class action failed at the pleading stage. A new case with stronger evidence of direct price harm, filed by plaintiffs with cleaner purchase timelines, could survive a motion to dismiss. Additionally, Panini's separate antitrust claims against Fanatics remain active in other proceedings, and regulatory scrutiny of exclusive licensing in sports continues nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the Fanatics antitrust lawsuit dismissed?
Why was the Fanatics lawsuit dismissed?
Who filed the lawsuit against Fanatics?
Can another lawsuit be filed against Fanatics?
Sources & Further Reading
- The Athletic — Lawsuit alleging Fanatics monopolizing sports card industry dismissed
- Sportico — Fanatics Wins Antitrust Lawsuit as Trading Card Buyers Lack Standing
- Fox Business — Federal judge dismisses lawsuit claiming Fanatics, pro sports leagues monopolized trading card industry
- DiCello Levitt — Landmark Antitrust Class Action Against Fanatics
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