17/06/2006
NEWS STORY
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A federal judge has thrown out a class-action lawsuit brought by race fans following the 2005 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis.
The action, which involved as many as ten separate lawsuits, was against the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Michelin and Formula One, following the boycott of the race by seven teams due to 'safety issues'. Those bringing the action called were claiming for damages in addition to compensation for ticket and travel costs for thousands of race fans.
Dismissing the case, U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker ruled that race fans had no basis to sue as all sports fans have to expect circumstances in which participants might find themselves sidelined, be it through injury, lack of form or suspension.
"It is to be assumed that the Michelin teams made the decision they believed to be in their best competitive and professional interests, and in doing so, they owed no legal duty to let the preferences of the spectators trump their own good judgment," wrote Barker in a 12-page ruling.
The claimants have thirty days in which to appeal and Indianapolis lawyer Henry J. Price has told Associated Press that an appeal will be filed at the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago next week.
In addition to refunds for race fans attending the 2005 event, Michelin has provided 20,000 tickets for this year's race, which takes place on July 2.
Furthermore, the French company has scheduled a number of events for the days leading up to race, including autograph sessions and a question-and-answer session with World Champion Fernando Alonso.