HOUSTON – Fans do not pay to see a crooked game of baseball, but it turns out that is what happened in the Astros sign stealing scandal, states a recently filed lawsuit against the ball club.
Alleging unjust enrichment, Kenneth Young, on behalf of himself and all other 2018 season ticket holders, filed suit against the Houston Astros on Feb. 18 in Harris County District Court.
Young, who says in his lawsuit that baseball is “American as apple pie,” claims the Astros have “repeatedly defrauded fans, and others attending their games, of substantial sums of money.”
Following an investigation, MLB revealed that the Astros utilized multiple methods of illegal sign stealing in 2017 and 2018.
“While many methods the Astros used to communicate sign stealing are not discoverable from video analysis … the trash can banging has been proven, documented and analyzed,” the suit states. “Each of the tickets (and season passes) sold during the subject games, where prohibited sign stealing occurred, were sold through misrepresentation by act or omission.”
Young is asking the court to enter an order permanently enjoining the Astros from “continuing the unlawful, deceptive, fraudulent, and unfair business practices” alleged in the complaint.
He is seeking restitution and punitive damages, plus court costs and attorney’s fees.
The Hilliard Martinez Gonzales law firm in Corpus Christi represents him.
Case No. 2020-11221