Imagine What They'd Do in Green Bay!
By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jun 11, 2007 1:09PM
Two lawyers split four season tickets to the Bears, held in one lawyer's name. The friendship sours, and the other believes he might lose his access to Bears tickets. So what does he do? Sue, of course.
Douglas Warlick had held Bears season tickets since 1985 — often inviting friend Donald Ramsell to join him at games. When the Bears required season ticket holders to purchase seat licenses in order to get seats at the renovated Soldier Field in 2002, Warlick offered Ramsell the opportunity to purchase a pair of season tickets in return for ponying up half of the $10,000 license fee for the four seats.
However, the friendship soured in recent years due to, among other things, Warlick's arrest at Soldier Field for public trespassing and differing opinions about tailgating.
After the season, Ramsell sent Warlick a certified letter complaining about having to always be the one to drive to games, saying he felt like a limo service — we'd be willing to bet he's the one who's got a big ol' SUV that's better for tailgating.
In the letter Ramsell also proposed Warlick "transfer two tickets into Ramsell's name, sell all four and buy new ones on the open market, or put the four tickets into a legal partnership with Ramsell."
Warlick responded to Ramsell's letter by reminding him that he is the diehard fan who has held season ticket for over two decades, paying for tickets and sitting through bad weather even in times of awful Bears teams. He then reminded his former friend, "On the other hand, in just (4) years, you have been fortunate enough to attend as many Bears games as you desired as well as attend an NFC Championship game. Consider yourself lucky, and don't be greedy."
When Warlick didn't contact Ramsell at the usual point of the off-season about payment for next year's tickets, he assumed he was being cut off from access to the tickets. Naturally, he sued.
Reminded of the story of King Solomon and the baby, our first thought what that these two need to take their issue before Ditka.
But instead, we here at Chicagoist will now preside over the first installment of SportCourt!
Based on the evidence and testimony we've heard about this disagreement, both friends seem equally at fault. Since the tickets had been in Warlick's name for two decades, there was no formal agreement on splitting the tickets, and there are no paid-for tickets that remain undelivered, we rule that Warlick gets to keep his four tickets. However, Warlick must pay back Ramsell $4000 of the money he put up for the seat licenses.
As for Ramsell, we say that you were in fact lucky to have what tickets you did have — you neither waited for years on waiting lists nor paid for tickets during 2-14 seasons like most Bears fans who got to see the games you saw. If you want more tickets, you'll either have to pay for them on the open market or sign up for the season ticket waiting list. Just by being a lawyer you're not afforded privileges above those of any other Bears fan.
Image via ChicagoBears.com