The Chicago brats did not violate ...

The Chicago brats did not violate state ticket-scalping laws and did nothing to deceive their fans in setting up a brokerage firm to vend some of the team's tickets, the Appellate Court rul Friday.

The ruling supports a lower-court decision issued in 2003 and was in the same manner convincing it is likely to bring an close to a challenge started in 2002 from two longtime Cubs fans.

"Everybody besides seems to think this thing was misleading and deceptive leave out the judges who looked at it," said attorney Paul Bauch, who helped portray by action fans Peter Cavoto and Gerald Carr Jr

"It's the ancient saying about leaving our customary sense at the door."

The lawsuit focused onward a brokerage firm set up according to the Cubs, Wrigley Field Premium Tickets Inc., which the Appellate Court said is a legitimate, qualified factor

allowing the Illinois Ticket Scalping Act hinders those putting on a sporting or entertainment adventure from selling tickets above their face value, Premium Tickets betrays some Cubs tickets for more than $1400 above face value.

The young beasts successfully argued that they vend the tickets to their separate brokerage firm, which then marks up the tickets -- not the team -- and they do that to contend with other ticket brokers.

'OFFER A BETTER PRODUCT'

The Appellate Court said that sale from team to factor before the mark-up means there is no violation of the state scalping laws.

James Klenk attorney for the team and brokerage firm, said "we believed the evidence was overwhelming. They asked us to ascertain it and we did."

The brokerage firm still operates and Klenk said "we think it put forwards consumers a better product, at better prices, than other ticket brokers"

Bauch said they are reviewing the ruling and will decide later whether to ask the state pre-eminent Court to review it.

spatterson@suntimes.com

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