A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has decided that the breach-of-contract lawsuit filed by the Rose Bowl against UCLA will move forward. The judge refused UCLA’s request to dismiss the case.
On Thursday, Judge Joseph Lipner turned down UCLA’s attempt to dismiss the case through an anti-SLAPP motion. He explained that the motion was both “untimely” and “lacked sufficient cause for a late filing,” making it inappropriate for consideration.
Lipner pointed out that UCLA submitted this motion in March, a full 125 days following the receipt of the complaint. This case has now been ongoing for eight months.
Anti-SLAPP motions are legal tools intended to shield individuals and entities from unwarranted lawsuits that aim to intimidate them or curb their freedom of expression and right to petition.
“By filing the anti-SLAPP motion so late, UCLA appears to be prolonging its efforts to delay or halt these proceedings,” Lipner stated. “Essentially, this tactic would allow UCLA multiple opportunities to seek a stay over several months, which does not align with the intended purpose of the anti-SLAPP statute.”
As part of his ruling, Lipner also decreed that the Rose Bowl’s case against SoFi Stadium executives for allegedly enticing UCLA to breach its contract through tortious interference could proceed.
The ruling will allow the Rose Bowl to start issuing discovery requests and could prompt UCLA to commit to staying at its Pasadena home long term.
“We appreciate the court’s careful consolidation of the issues and the ruling,” said Nima Mohebbi, a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, the law firm that’s representing the Rose Bowl and the City of Pasadena. “We look forward to moving the case forward.”
A spokesperson for UCLA’s Office of the Vice Chancellor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The California Post recently learned that UCLA and the Rose Bowl have engaged in discussions for a resolution that would keep the Bruins at their longtime football home through the end of a lease that runs through the 2043 season.
UCLA has already committed to playing at the Rose Bowl for the 2026 season.
In October, the Rose Bowl Operating Co. and the City of Pasadena sued UCLA, claiming the school was exploring a move to SoFi Stadium. The proposed move would not only give the Bruins a more modern home stadium closer to campus but also provide additional revenue through multiple sources, including a planned mixed-use development project.
As part of its lease with the Rose Bowl, UCLA pays no rent but also is locked into what could be considered unfavorable terms regarding suite revenue and other potential income streams.
The stadium is allowing the school to keep revenue from premium seats associated with a new field-level club scheduled to open this season.