Judge dismisses Wrigley rooftop owners' lawsuit

Karen Jordan Image
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Wrigley rooftop owners' lawsuit dismissed
A judge has ruled the new right field video board at Wrigley Field is legal and threw out the nearby rooftop owners' lawsuit.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago Cubs had a huge victory in court on Wednesday. The decision comes as the Cubs gear up to play post-season baseball for the first time since 2008.

Since April, patrons of two rooftop businesses - the Skybox on Sheffield and the Lakeview Baseball Club - have had the right field video board as part of their view into Wrigley Field.

But a judge ruled Wednesday there was no foul play by the Cubs and dismissed a lawsuit alleging the team violated revenue sharing contracts.

The rooftops argue that a specific clause in the contract guarantees their clear views into Wrigley Field in exchange for 17 percent of all their pretax revenue.

But in a decisive blow, Judge Virginia Kendall dismissed all nine counts of the lawsuit ruling the contract specifically allows for expansion of Wrigley and the video board is part of the expansion.

The Cubs issued a statement saying: "We are very pleased with the Court's decisive ruling today. Judge Kendall's opinion confirms the bleacher expansion does not violate our rooftop agreements, as we have maintained from the outset. We also appreciate that with this chapter closed, everyone's focus can continue to be on the field, where it belongs."

The rooftop owners' attorney could not be reached for comment. A new complaint cannot be filed on the issue, but rooftop owners may appeal the judge's decision.