Maryland's highest court just made a ruling that could result in refunds for people

[KSweeley]

who paid for tickets for games at Oriole Park, performances at the Lyric and other major events in Baltimore City.

Link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...,5739642.story

9:17 PM EST, January 18, 2013

In a decision that could have implications for how show and sports tickets are sold in Baltimore, the state's highest court ruled Friday that service fees charged by Ticketmaster amount to scalping — setting up the possibility that people who attended some events might ultimately be eligible for refunds.

Whether the ruling will result in refunds for people who attended games at Camden Yards, performances at the Patricia & Arthur Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric or shows at other major venues in the city will depend on how the U.S. District Court for Maryland decides on several unresolved questions.

Service charges are "a way of masking the real price for consumers and driving up the cost," said Marty Wolf of Towson-based Gordon & Wolf, which brought the lawsuit. The decision, he said, could affect "almost every venue in the city."

[Baltimatt]

I find the article confusing. The state court ruled that a Baltimore City ordinance requiring ticket sales at face price did not apply, but then called Ticketmaster fees "scalping." I agree that $12 on a $52 ticket seems excessive.

Here's the ruling.

[KSweeley]

I find the article confusing. The state court ruled that a Baltimore City ordinance requiring ticket sales at face price did not apply, but then called Ticketmaster fees "scalping." I agree that $12 on a $52 ticket seems excessive.

Here's the ruling.

Strange, the article states:

The federal court requested the Maryland Court of Appeals to decide whether a Baltimore City ordinance banning the sale of tickets above face value applied in the case. That ordinance was rushed through the City Council in one day in 1948 after reports that city residents were being charged exorbitant prices by ticket agencies to attend a Navy-Notre Dame football game.


The Maryland court ruled that the ordinance does apply.

Who's wrong I wonder.