High-Stakes Class Actions Head to U.S. Appeals Courts
American corporations across technology, entertainment, sports, real estate, and hospitality sectors face pivotal legal tests in 2026 as federal appeals courts consider a series of consequential class action disputes. The rulings could reshape liability exposure and determine whether massive consumer lawsuits move forward.
Live Nation and Event Pricing Litigation
Live Nation is seeking review by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after a federal judge allowed a nationwide class action accusing the company of inflating prices at major concert venues. The lawsuit covers approximately 15 years of ticket sales and more than 400 million transactions. If upheld, the case could expose the entertainment giant to substantial financial damages tied to alleged overcharging practices.
Apple and App Store Antitrust Claims
Apple is also before the 9th Circuit, where consumers are pushing to revive a class action alleging the company abused its dominance in the app marketplace to raise prices. A trial court previously removed the case’s class status, affecting nearly 200 million iPhone users and claims of roughly $20 billion in overcharges. The appeals court has agreed to hear the challenge, signaling a potentially significant antitrust ruling.
Sports, Media, and Athlete Compensation Cases
The 9th Circuit is expected to assess the fairness of a landmark $2.8 billion settlement compensating college athletes for the commercial use of their name, image, and likeness. Appeals have delayed payments to approximately 400,000 current and former athletes, despite broad class member support cited by the NCAA.
Separately, the same court will hear arguments in March seeking to revive class actions against the National Football League related to its “Sunday Ticket” broadcast package. A prior $4.7 billion jury verdict was overturned, with the league arguing the damages were excessive and unsupported.
Hospitality and Real Estate Pricing Disputes
Outside the West Coast, the 3rd Circuit may soon decide whether to reinstate a class action accusing Atlantic City casino-hotels of coordinating room prices through shared software systems. A similar case involving Las Vegas hotels was recently dismissed, increasing the likelihood of future Supreme Court involvement.
Meanwhile, the 8th Circuit will review objections to multibillion-dollar settlements involving the National Association of Realtors and major brokerages. The lawsuits alleged nationwide commission inflation, leading to hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and significant rule changes now under appellate scrutiny.
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