In a ruling that clears the way for the Rose Bowl’s breach-of-contract case against UCLA to proceed, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge has denied the school’s bid for a dismissal.
Judge Joseph Lipner on Thursday rejected UCLA’s attempt to throw out the case via an anti-SLAPP motion, writing that the court shouldn’t consider such a motion because it was “untimely and unsupported by sufficient cause to permit late filing.”
Lipner noted that UCLA filed its request for the motion in March – 125 days after being served with the complaint in a case that has stretched into its eighth month.
Anti-SLAPP motions, which stands for Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, are state statutes designed to protect individuals and organizations from meritless, intimidating lawsuits intended to silence them for exercising their free speech or right to petition the government.
“UCLA’s late filing of an anti-SLAPP motion has the effect of stringing out UCLA’s efforts to slow down or stay these proceedings,” Lipner wrote. “It essentially would give UCLA two bites at the apple for purposes of attempting to obtain a stay, with those two attempts spread over a period of months. This is not a good or appropriate use 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.
