WWE-Jakks suit dismissed
By Staff -- Playthings, 9/2/2008 1:16:00 PM
MALIBU, Calif.—The Superior Court of Connecticut last week granted summary judgment dismissing WWE’s remaining state claims against Jakks Pacific and its senior officers relating to alleged wrongful acts occurring more than a decade ago of bribery and conflict of interest involving its videogame license and amendments to its toy license, according to a statement the toymaker released today.
The Connecticut Court determined that WWE’s claims were time-barred under Connecticut State law. In addition, the Connecticut Court separately found that WWE was precluded from litigating its state court claims based on the previous federal court determination that WWE’s then remaining federal claim was time-barred by the applicable federal statute of limitations. The Connecticut Court also dismissed WWE’s state antitrust claim based on the lack of any antitrust injury under Connecticut State law and, separately, because WWE was precluded from relitigating in state court antitrust claims that the federal court had already dismissed under federal law.
"From the outset, we have maintained that WWE’s claims against us were meritless and part of an attempt by WWE to force us to relinquish our financial stake in our licenses," said Jack Friedman, Jakks Pacific chairman and CEO. "We have refused to be bullied into submission and are delighted that the Connecticut Court has granted summary judgment in our favor."
WWE has indicated that it plans to appeal the adverse rulings against it, and Jakks Pacific and its senior officers, consistent with what they have done until now, intend to vigorously defend on appeal the court rulings, the company said.
As a result of prior federal court decisions, all of WWE’s federal claims against Jakks Pacific and its senior officers were dismissed, including claims alleging violations of RICO, the Sherman Antitrust Act, and the Robinson-Patman Act. Now, by virtue of this Connecticut Court’s summary judgment ruling, all of WWE’s remaining claims relating to the procurement of the subject licenses have also been dismissed.
