MLB Lawsuit: The Ballpark App Ticket-Theft Case Moves Forward
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The MLB lawsuit in the news right now is about stolen tickets. Fans say tickets vanished from the MLB Ballpark app in late 2025, and on September 30, 2026 a federal judge in Manhattan let two of their claims proceed against MLB Advanced Media. That is a step forward for the case, not a payout. As of October 2026 there is no MLB settlement, no fund, no claim form and no deadline.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the Ballpark App Lawsuit Says Happened
MLB Advanced Media runs the MLB Ballpark app, where most teams deliver digital tickets. Five named plaintiffs allege that defects in the app let cybercriminals take over accounts and transfer tickets off their phones in late 2025, so tickets simply disappeared before games.
According to the complaint, the problems began in August and September 2025. Some fans got emails from MLB or their club in early September about “unusual activity” and were told to change their passwords. The suit alleges the app lacked two-factor authentication, mandatory delays on ticket transfers and an option to print tickets, and that MLB never publicly disclosed the breaches. MLB Advanced Media has not admitted any of this.
Case Details
The lead case is Lanham v. MLB Advanced Media, L.P., No. 1:25-cv-07780, filed September 18, 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and assigned to Judge Arun Subramanian. On September 30, 2026 Judge Subramanian ruled that the plaintiffs had adequately pleaded negligence and breach of implied contract, so MLB Advanced Media must face those two claims. It is a proposed class action; no class has been certified.
Status: Case Survives, No MLB Settlement
Other lawsuits against MLB and its clubs are separate cases, covered below: ticket “junk fee” suits against teams, a dismissed MLB.tv privacy case, the federal pitch-rigging prosecution, and the minor league pay settlement that already paid out.
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Latest From the Court Docket
Recent entries in the federal case behind this page, taken from the court's own docket. We check it at least once a day; this list is as of Oct 11, 2026.
Case: Lanham v. MLB Advanced Media, L.P., No. 1:25-cv-07780 (S.D.N.Y.)
Oct 9, 2026
Transmission of Notice of Appeal and Docket Sheet to USCA
A docket entry is a step in the case, not a decision on who wins. Sources: the courts' PACER feeds and CourtListener (Free Law Project). Not legal advice.
Who Is in the Proposed Class
The complaint proposes a class of people in the United States who had 2025 season tickets in the MLB Ballpark app that were transferred or stolen without permission, and people MLB notified about unauthorized or suspicious activity on their Ballpark account.
You do not need to sign up. If a class is certified or the case settles, notice comes from a court-appointed administrator. Until then, keep what proves your loss: the “unusual activity” email, screenshots of the vanished tickets, and receipts for replacement tickets you bought.
Is There Any Money in an MLB Class Action?
The MLB settlement people remember is a different one: the minor league minimum-wage case, where MLB agreed to pay $185 million. It required no claim form, the exclusion deadline was December 27, 2022, and payments went out August 14, 2023. It is closed and has nothing to do with fans.
MLB Lawsuit Timeline
- 1
August–September 2025 — Tickets Start Vanishing
Per the complaint, fans report tickets stolen from the MLB Ballpark app. Some receive emails about unusual activity on their accounts.
- 2
September 18, 2025 — Lanham Case Filed
A proposed class action is filed against MLB Advanced Media in the Southern District of New York, No. 1:25-cv-07780.
- 3
January 2026 — MLB.tv Privacy Suits Dismissed
Judge Gregory H. Woods throws out three Video Privacy Protection Act suits over data shared with Meta and Snap. The same month, fans sue the Giants and Red Sox over ticket fees.
- 4
April 2026 — Red Sox Seek Dismissal
The Red Sox ask the Massachusetts federal court to dismiss the junk-fee suit or send it to arbitration.
- 5
September 30, 2026 — Ballpark App Claims Survive
Judge Arun Subramanian rules the negligence and breach of implied contract claims can proceed against MLB Advanced Media.
- 6
As of October 2026 — No Settlement
The Ballpark app case is in pretrial proceedings. No fund, administrator, claim form or deadline exists.
Court Documents
Read the key filings yourself. We host copies of the public court record, free to read and share.
Case: Lanham v. MLB Advanced Media, L.P., No. 1:25-cv-07780 (S.D.N.Y.)
- ComplaintSep 18, 2025 · ECF No. 1 · 37 pages · PDF, 748 KB
- Order on a Motion to DismissSep 30, 2026 · ECF No. 38 · 11 pages · PDF, 240 KB
A complaint states one side's allegations; only the court's orders decide anything. Copies of federal court records (PACER) via CourtListener, Free Law Project. Not legal advice.
Three Things to Watch For
Stolen-ticket victims are already primed to act fast, which is what imposters count on:
“Claim your MLB settlement” pages
There is no MLB settlement claims site for the Ballpark app case. A form that asks for your MLB account login, card number or Social Security number is collecting data, not filing a claim.
Fake “unusual activity” emails
The real case grew out of account-takeover alerts, so look-alike alerts are an easy lure. Open the Ballpark app yourself to check your account instead of clicking a link in an email or text.
Ticket “recovery” for a fee
Nobody connected to the lawsuit charges to restore stolen tickets or to put you in the class. Contact your team's ticket office directly about missing tickets.
MLB Lawsuit — Questions People Actually Ask
What is the MLB lawsuit in the news?
Most recently, the MLB class action lawsuit over the Ballpark app: Lanham v. MLB Advanced Media, No. 1:25-cv-07780 in Manhattan federal court. Fans allege the app's weak security let thieves steal their tickets in late 2025. On September 30, 2026 the judge let the negligence and breach of implied contract claims go forward.
Is there an MLB settlement I can file a claim for?
No. As of October 2026 there is no settlement in the Ballpark app case and no claim form or deadline. The only recent MLB settlement, the $185 million minor league pay deal, was for players, needed no claim form and paid out August 14, 2023.
My tickets disappeared from the Ballpark app. Am I included?
Possibly. The proposed class covers people whose 2025 season tickets in the app were transferred or stolen without permission, and people MLB notified about suspicious account activity. No class has been certified yet, so there is nothing to join. Save your emails and receipts.
Are teams being sued over ticket fees?
Yes, separately. The Red Sox were sued January 16, 2026 in Massachusetts federal court over a $7 order fee, and the Giants were sued in California federal court the same month; one named plaintiff says $10 tickets became $29 at checkout, a 45% jump. The Red Sox asked in April 2026 for dismissal or arbitration. Neither case has a settlement.
What happened to the MLB.tv privacy lawsuit against MLB?
It was dismissed. In January 2026 Judge Gregory H. Woods of the Southern District of New York threw out three suits alleging MLB Advanced Media shared viewing histories with Meta and Snap, finding the data did not count as personally identifiable information under the Video Privacy Protection Act.
What is the MLB pitch-betting case?
A criminal prosecution, not a lawsuit against MLB. Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted in Brooklyn in November 2025. Prosecutors allege bettors won at least $460,000 on rigged pitches; both pleaded not guilty. Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto denied separate trials, and trial was set to begin November 2, 2026. Fans have no claim in it.
Is the lawsuit against MLB worth joining with a lawyer?
You do not need to sign anything to stay in a proposed class; Rule 23 classes include you unless you opt out. If your loss was large, such as costly playoff tickets, a lawyer can tell you whether an individual claim makes sense.
What should I do right now?
Turn on every security option your MLB account offers, use a unique password, and check that your tickets are still in the app before game day. Keep any MLB or team email about unusual activity and receipts for replacement tickets.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.
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