Landmark Case - Event Ticket Reselling

In R v Hunter, Ben Douglas-Jones QC led Rhodri James (of 23 Essex Street) in the representation of the first defendant in the landmark National Trading Standards prosecution of the officers of BZZ Ltd for reselling concert and event tickets using multiple names. 

 

The case involved the evidence of Ed Sheeran’s manager and promoter. 

 

Ben led an abuse of process argument based on Regulators’ Code (Adaway consumer abuse) and the law concerning tickets and contractual webs involved in the ticketing industry; and unfairness to consumers in business-to-consumer contracts forming part of contractual webs.

 

Ben led argument on the law of fraud, fraudulent trading and dishonesty concerning consumer fraud in the secondary ticketing industry.

 

News Coverage

The Guardian: 'Nothing illegal about reselling tickets', jury at fraud trial told

Daily Mail: Two online touts who resold tickets to high profile events worth £11m might have 'upset' Ed Sheeran but have done nothing illegal, fraud trial hears