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Elite Rodeo Association and Star Professional Rodeo Athletes File Class Action Lawsuit Sticking Up For Rights of Cowboys and Cowgirls November 9, 2015
Posted on November 9, 2015 by ERA
Tony Garritano, Trevor Brazile and Ryan Motes discuss the antitrust lawsuit filed November 9, 2015.
Tony Garritano, Trevor Brazile and Ryan Motes discuss the antitrust lawsuit filed November 9, 2015.
The Elite Rodeo Association (ERA) and three of the top cowboys in the world today were forced to bring an antitrust class action lawsuit challenging unfair and illegal bylaws passed by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). These anticompetitive PRCA bylaws were enacted in October 2015 to try to shut down or harm ERA before its inaugural 2016 season.
“ERA’s goal is simple: better the sport of rodeo for everyone – fans, professional athletes, rodeo associations, stock contractors, sponsors and venues,” said Tony Garritano, CEO and President of ERA. “We are filing this lawsuit on behalf of professional cowboys and cowgirls who have devoted their lives to rodeo and are truly the best in the sport, in order to make rodeo stronger and create opportunities for everyone who dreams of being a rodeo champion, not only today but for generations to come.”
ERA was announced earlier this year to create a new, nationally televised stage where fans get to see the best rodeo talent compete in a regular season culminating with a World Championship Rodeo at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. ERA seeks to expand audiences for the sport and elevate the world of professional rodeo. PRCA responded to an announcement that top cowboys would focus their 2016 “tour” schedules on ERA events by enacting new bylaws that retaliate against almost anyone who participates in, or has any connection with, an ERA rodeo, including athletes, rodeo committees, facilities and vendors.
“PRCA is unlawfully exercising its monopoly power in the rodeo industry and organizing a group boycott to prevent free competition in the sport,” said Jim Quinn, one of the country’s preeminent sports law attorneys and a partner with the law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, which is representing the cowboys and ERA in the lawsuit along with antitrust law partner Eric Hochstadt and sports law attorney John Gerba. “PRCA’s bylaws are clearly anticompetitive on their face, and should be declared illegal by the court, just as other courts have done when PRCA tried these same unfair tactics in the past.”
The class action lawsuit seeks a court order to temporarily and permanently stop PRCA from enforcing the new bylaws. The case was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas on behalf of all current and future athletes who are or will be an officer, board member, employee of ERA or have or will have an ownership or financial interest of any form in ERA.
“We aren’t asking for any money in this lawsuit, just the opportunity to compete in ERA events without being retaliated against by PRCA,” said Trevor Brazile, a 21-time World Champion Cowboy, ERA Board Member and shareholder, and one of the named plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “We believe PRCA and ERA can – and should – work together on behalf of the sport, just as PRCA has successfully done with the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and other rodeo associations.”
PRCA and ERA are two different organizations with different missions. Where PRCA is driven by member dues and sanctions hundreds of rodeo events that include competitors of any skill level, ERA was founded to create a “League of Champions” and a true national championship to increase excitement and benefit the entire industry.
“It’s unfortunate that after participating loyally in PRCA events across the country as a professional for nearly 20 years that PRCA has responded this way,” said Plaintiff Bobby Mote of Stephenville, Texas, who holds four world titles, is a founder and shareholder of ERA, and another of the named plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “We designed ERA as an additional tour for competitors, not as a replacement, and it has always been my intention to participate in both ERA and PRCA events next season.”
ERA is open to every cowboy and cowgirl who can demonstrate that they have the ability and dedication to be one of the very best athletes in the sport.
“Current and future generations of rodeo athletes will see a stronger career path that allows the very best competitors to concentrate on their profession and be able to end their careers on their own terms,” said Ryan Motes, of Weatherford, Texas, the current co-holder of the world record in team roping, a founder and shareholder in ERA, and the third named plaintiff in the litigation.
“ERA is committed to working with the entire rodeo industry, including PRCA, to bring added vitality, growth, and value to the sport,” continued Garritano. “But we can’t stand aside and let PRCA break the rules and play Monopoly with rodeo. The free market gets to decide what competitions take place, not the PRCA.”
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is well-known for their representation of the Players’ Associations of most major U.S. professional sports leagues. Quinn, the head of the firm’s Sports Law Practice, has more than 40 years of experience in the field, and is credited with developing the collective bargaining process in most major U.S. professional sports leagues today.
The antitrust class action lawsuit is The Elite Rodeo Association, Trevor Brazile, Bobby Mote, and Ryan Motes v. Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Inc.
A copy of the complaint is available below.
Link to Fact Sheet and Complaint Excerpts
Link to Full Complaint
Edited by MOTIVATED 2015-11-09 11:11 AM
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| Just saw that on FB. I felt like it was coming sooner or later. |
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| Am I just PMSing or did that sound like a dig? " a TRUE national championship. " |
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  Fact Checker
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Location: Displaced Iowegian | What a surprise.......LOL |
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| sorry the only thing that ticked me off is the word "true" champions... WHERE THE H.E. DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS DID THEY GET THE TITLE WORLD CHAMPIONS.. FROM A BARREL RACING/ROPING ASSOCIATION???
I agree that they should be able to compete where ever they want.... |
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| Polly05 - 2015-11-09 11:20 AM
sorry the only thing that ticked me off is the word "true" champions... WHERE THE H.E. DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS DID THEY GET THE TITLE WORLD CHAMPIONS.. FROM A BARREL RACING/ROPING ASSOCIATION???
I agree that they should be able to compete where ever they want....
That is what kinda "got" me too...
Edited by MOTIVATED 2015-11-09 11:30 AM
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Location: North Pole |  |
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Location: Peach State | I wasn't against the ERA but with every dang press release they sound more and more like total A holes. I don't mean this towards any particular individual in theERA |
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| I agree, their PR could use some help. |
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| PRCA should have seen this coming. Either they are ignorant or already have legal counsel and found a loophole. Until then  |
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The Advice Guru
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| Seen on Facebook someone posted a question asking if Trevor Brazile was going to be competing at the NFR, as somewhere in the PRCA bylaws or rules it says competitors cannot sue PRCA.
Wonder what PRCA will do
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| wonder if Trevor is going to give back his steer roping Championship that he won last weekend?
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 That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| I'm pretty good friends with all the wright boys...2 of the, are on the 2016 roster and era is trying to get two more for next year. Was just talking to jake this morning and he doesn't have a clue what is going on.
I think most of the contestants just want to rodeo, not sue each other and fight. If this squabble isn't resolved fast they are going to take all of professional rodeo down with it. There isn't enough money or stability to the athletes to keep fighting, most can do something else for income. |
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Fact Checker
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Location: Displaced Iowegian | cheryl makofka - 2015-11-09 1:07 PM Seen on Facebook someone posted a question asking if Trevor Brazile was going to be competing at the NFR, as somewhere in the PRCA bylaws or rules it says competitors cannot sue PRCA. Wonder what PRCA will do
I am pretty sure that this part of the "rules" pertains to liability lawsuits for injury, death, etc........ |
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Location: The best kept secret in TX | I'm not surprised. I'm also pretty sure the ERA will win this lawsuit. Pretty sure...
I agree they need major help with PR because they have little words thrown in the press release that get under my skin but at the same time PRCA can't legally go around telling people "sorry you can't do that because it hurts our feelings and our pocket books..." Can they?  |
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Location: Oklahoma | I dont understand why they dont have their own qualification system instead of using PRCA rodeo's? |
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That's White "Man" to You
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| On another note, I fundamentally disagree with any court telling any private organization what they can or can not do. That beings said, it really is too bad they can't work together. Would have been really great for everybody involved. |
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Location: The best kept secret in TX | Whiteboy - 2015-11-09 3:22 PM On another note, I fundamentally disagree with any court telling any private organization what they can or can not do. That beings said, it really is too bad they can't work together. Would have been really great for everybody involved.
PRCA works very closely with PBR... I'd like to know what the difference is with the ERA. I mean, If you think about it, ERA is showcasing some of the greatest talent PRCA has ever had.... You would think they would use it as publicity fo rthe PRCA. You know, like "Follow all the PRCA Rodeos to see who could possibly run in the next ERA Tour." Or something to that effect... I'm not good with words... But you would think it could benefit the PRCA in some way... Just my two cents... |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | IRunOnFaith - 2015-11-09 1:26 PM
Whiteboy - 2015-11-09 3:22 PM On another note, I fundamentally disagree with any court telling any private organization what they can or can not do. That beings said, it really is too bad they can't work together. Would have been really great for everybody involved.
PRCA works very closely with PBR... I'd like to know what the difference is with the ERA. I mean, If you think about it, ERA is showcasing some of the greatest talent PRCA has ever had.... You would think they would use it as publicity fo rthe PRCA. You know, like "Follow all the PRCA Rodeos to see who could possibly run in the next ERA Tour." Or something to that effect... I'm not good with words... But you would think it could benefit the PRCA in some way... Just my two cents...
Probably because the PBR wasn't a bunch of a-holes about it, didn't piggyback off PRCA events with no credit or thanks, and wasn't parading around with their hat brims in the air. Just a few guesses that come to mind...
ETA: I'm not saying the ERA members ARE a-holes, I'm saying they kind of come off that way.
Edited by svincent 2015-11-09 3:34 PM
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| When you sign your membership form you waive the right to sue or hold accountable the PRCA not just from harm, the PRCA has grounds to fine and suspend. |
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