Judge Consolidates 3 Class Actions vs. UFC for Violations of Calif. Auto Renewal Law

U.S. District Judge Cristina Silva for Nevada in Las Vegas granted the motion of defendant Zuffa, 49.9% owner of Ultimate Fighting Championship, to consolidate three class actions that allege the company violated the California Automatic Renewal Law (ARL) for the manner in which it runs the UFC Fight Pass streaming service (see 2308100002), said the judge’s signed order Wednesday. The six plaintiffs in the three class actions failed to respond to Zuffa’s motion to consolidate, and the motion “may be granted on this reason alone,” said Silva’s order. The court also finds that “consolidation is appropriate because there are common questions of law and fact” among the three class actions, it said. The first-filed class action, Reza et al v. Zuffa (docket 2:23-cv-00802) will serve as the lead case, said the judge’s order. The plaintiffs are to file a consolidated amended complaint within 30 days of an order appointing interim class counsel, it said: “The consolidated complaint will be the operative complaint in the consolidated action and shall supersede all complaints filed in any action consolidated herein.” The plaintiffs allege they're improperly charged monthly or yearly fees for the UFC Fight Pass subscription steaming service without proper disclosures under the ARL that the service would automatically renew or how to cancel it.