Mets Fan Suing Team Over Season Tickets

Before the season started, the New York Mets thought they could boost season ticket sales for 2008 if they promised buyers awesome seats at Citi Field in 2009. The catch was that you had to buy season tickets for both the 2008 and 2009 season this year, which could get pretty costly.

Mets fan Judd Burstein was one of those fans who bought in to the Mets promise, and he dropped $17,000 on tickets for this year and next. Burstein, who is a celebrity lawyer (as opposed to a poor person lawyer), has four field level seats between first base and the outfield this season at Shea, and he was pretty sure he'd have similar seats next season as well. Well, he won't, as he recently found out that his season tickets next year will be in the upper deck of left field.

Of course, since Judd is a lawyer, he can think of only one response. He's suing the team.

"They picked the wrong person to cheat," said Burstein, whose clients include boxers Oscar De La Hoya and Lennox Lewis, as well as advertising mogul and talk-show host Donny Deutsch.

In the suit, which Burstein will file today in Manhattan Supreme Court, he claims he got a letter last year urging him to renew his tickets with the promise he'd get "priority" seats at Citi Field.

"Plainly, the Mets lied when they promised 'priority,' " he wrote. "Rather, they took money and then allowed thousands of others to jump the line."

Actually, I'm pretty sure taking money and then allowing everybody to jump ahead in line is how the Mets approach the NL East standings as well, so Burstein shouldn't be that surprised.

Latest MLB Photos

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Salomon Torres calls for the ball after giving up his first of three runs to the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, in Milwaukee. Cincinnati won 5-4. (AP Photo/Bill Waugh)

Oakland Athletics second baseman Eric Patterson, left, drops the ball as Detroit Tigers' Edgar Renteria steals second base in the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, in Detroit. The Tigers beat the Athletics 14-8. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Jason Giambi #25 of the New York Yankees walks away from home plate after being called out on strikes in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on September 8, 2008 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jason Giambi

Getty Images

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero, left, tries to settle pitcher Yusmeiro Petit during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Cincinnati Reds hitter Jeff Keppinger watches his go ahead double in the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Bill Waugh)

Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto crosses home plate after his solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, in Milwaukee. At right is home plate umpire Jeff Nelson. The Reds won 5-4. (AP Photo/Bill Waugh)

Cincinnati Reds' Jeff Keppinger hits a go ahead double scoring two runs in the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Bill Waugh)

Cincinnati Reds hitter Jeff Keppinger watches his go ahead double in the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Bill Waugh)

Detroit Tigers reliever Casey Fossum pitches against the Oakland Athletics in the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, in Detroit. Fossum recorded his third win as the Tigers beat the Athletics 14-8. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera grabs his side after he was hit by a pitch in the second inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics on Monday, Sept. 8, 2008 in Detroit. Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a home run in the Tigers' 14-8 win. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

It's pretty hard to argue against Burstein being angry with the team, because if it had happened to me, I'd probably be pretty angry about it as well. Of course, since I would probably have to hire one of those poor people lawyers, I'd likely only end up with the same seats and a free foam finger that says the Mets are number one.

I get the feeling that Burstein will end up with quite a bit more than that.