When enforcing contract rights creates a public relations nightmare

Sometimes, a business can run into big public relations problems by enforcing contract rights. This week, The Washington Post has run stories about how the Washington Redskins have been suing some fans for breach of contract. Click here and here. Today’s Post includes a scathing piece by columnist Thomas Boswell, entitled “A Public Distrust.” Boswell states, “the team has taken the bad faith prize for mean and greedy business practices toward its own fans,” and “[t]he Redskins have a right to enforce contracts. But that doesn't make it right.” Boswell’s also states, “[if ticket buyers with multiyear contracts suffer from economic hard times, the Redskins do not emulate at least nine other NFL teams, as well as local franchises such as the Capitals, and simply cancel the tickets and sell them to someone else. Nope. Despite a ‘waiting list’ they claim is 160,000 long, the Redskins sue some of their own fans for the money and, at times, even resell the tickets.” One wonders whether enforcing contract rights in this case is worth the hit the team is taking on the public relations front.

Update: click here.

Tags: Contracts