Netflix Class Action Lawsuit, Tyson-Paul Fight Streaming Disaster Sparks $50M Legal Battle and Antitrust Claims
Netflix faces a massive $50 million class action lawsuit filed by Florida resident Ronald “Blue” Denton after catastrophic streaming failures during the November 15, 2024 Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul boxing match left an estimated 50 million subscribers unable to watch the highly anticipated fight. The lawsuit alleges breach of contract and violations of Florida’s consumer protection laws after widespread buffering issues, complete loss of access, and service disruptions affected the vast majority of viewers who tuned in to watch the most-hyped boxing event in recent history.
Additionally, Netflix and Meta face a separate antitrust class action lawsuit filed in Illinois federal court claiming the tech giants illegally agreed not to compete in the video-streaming market, allowing Netflix to raise subscription prices while Meta shuttered its Facebook Watch platform.
What Is the Netflix Class Action Lawsuit About?
The primary lawsuit, filed in the 13th Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County, Florida as Case No. 24-CA-009170, claims tens of thousands of Netflix subscribers reported critical streaming problems during the Tyson-Paul fight, with approximately 97,000 service outage reports logged by 9:46 p.m. ET. The complaint characterizes the event as “unwatchable” for most viewers who pay between $6.99 and $22.99 monthly for Netflix service.
The lawsuit brings claims for breach of contract and violations of Florida’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act. Plaintiff Ronald Denton argues Netflix was “woefully ill-prepared” for the massive global audience despite previous technical failures during live events.
Who Is Affected By This Lawsuit?
The class action seeks to represent all U.S. consumers who are current Netflix customers and whose access to the November 15, 2024 Tyson/Paul fight was blocked or diminished by buffering issues throughout the event. An estimated 50 million individuals could be included in the proposed class.
A Florida subclass specifically covers consumers who were charged their full Netflix subscription fee despite not receiving the live streaming services they paid for during the fight.
Recent Legal Developments in Netflix Litigation
Tyson-Paul Streaming Lawsuit Status
The 13-page amended complaint was filed on November 21, 2024, just six days after the disastrous fight broadcast. The case remains in its early stages with no settlement reached. Netflix has not yet filed a formal response in court.
When class action lawsuits are first filed, consumers typically do not need to take any action to join the case. Only in the event of a class action settlement would affected individuals need to complete and submit a settlement claim form.
Netflix-Meta Antitrust Lawsuit
On November 18, 2024, plaintiffs filed a separate class action in the Northern District of Illinois alleging Netflix and Meta violated Section One of the Sherman Act by agreeing to allocate markets—video streaming to Netflix and user data to Meta.
The antitrust lawsuit covers all U.S. residents who paid for Netflix subscriptions since August 9, 2017, and alleges that Meta abandoned Facebook Watch in early 2019 after Netflix agreed to provide subscriber data to Meta and dramatically increase advertising spending on Facebook’s platform.
Netflix raised subscription prices by 12.5% to 18% in January 2019, shortly after the alleged agreement was finalized—the largest price increases in Netflix’s history at that time.
What Legal Claims Are Being Made?
Tyson-Paul Fight Lawsuit Claims
Breach of Contract: The complaint alleges Netflix failed to provide the streaming services subscribers paid for, violating contractual obligations by continuing to charge customers for services not properly delivered.
Florida Deceptive Trade Practices: The lawsuit accuses Netflix of engaging in unfair and deceptive business practices by promoting and charging for a live event it could not adequately deliver to paying subscribers.
Consumer Collection Practices Violations: The complaint alleges Netflix continued billing subscribers despite failing to fulfill its service promises during the live event.
Antitrust Lawsuit Claims
Market Allocation: The Illinois lawsuit contends Netflix and Meta illegally agreed not to compete by dividing markets—video streaming went to Netflix while data collection remained with Meta.
Price Manipulation: Plaintiffs claim the anticompetitive agreement enabled Netflix to raise prices without fear of competition from Meta, harming consumers through higher subscription costs and reduced market choices.
Data Sharing Violations: The complaint reveals Netflix was among only three companies granted access to Facebook users’ private messages, including the ability to read, write, and delete messages and see all thread participants.
Netflix’s Pattern of Live Streaming Failures
The Tyson-Paul debacle wasn’t Netflix’s first live event disaster. In 2023, the live reunion for season four of “Love Is Blind” was delayed by more than an hour due to technical problems.
Despite 60 million households tuning into the fight and nearly 50 million watching the co-main event between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, Netflix’s infrastructure couldn’t handle the demand, with buffering problems plaguing viewers from the event’s start.
What Damages Are Being Sought?
The Tyson-Paul streaming lawsuit seeks $50 million in damages, though the specific amount per affected subscriber has not been specified. The plaintiff demands a jury trial and requests injunctive relief, actual damages, nominal damages, and consequential damages for all class members.
The antitrust lawsuit seeks treble damages under the Sherman Act, which allows plaintiffs to recover three times the actual damages sustained, plus injunctive relief to restore competition in the streaming market.
Current Case Status and Timeline
Tyson-Paul Lawsuit: Filed November 21, 2024. Currently in pre-motion stage with no court rulings yet issued. Netflix has not responded to the complaint.
Netflix-Meta Antitrust Case: Filed November 18, 2024 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois as Case No. 1:24-cv-11839. Meta has denied the allegations, calling the suit “baseless.” Netflix declined to comment.
A parallel class action lawsuit seeking approximately $2.75 million was also filed in Israel’s Central District Court over the same streaming failures affecting Israeli Netflix subscribers.
Is There a Netflix Settlement Claim Form?
No claim form currently exists. The class action lawsuit has not been settled, and there is no way of knowing whether the case will eventually settle, be dismissed by the court, or proceed to trial.
Consumers do not need to take any action to be included in the class at this early stage. If a settlement is eventually reached, affected Netflix subscribers will be notified and provided with claim form instructions at that time.
Who Is Eligible to Participate?
Tyson-Paul Fight Lawsuit Eligibility
You may be eligible if you:
- Were a Netflix subscriber on November 15, 2024
- Experienced streaming problems during the Tyson-Paul fight, including:
- Complete loss of access to the stream
- Persistent buffering that interrupted viewing
- Streaming glitches or freezing
- Service outages during the event
- Were charged your regular Netflix subscription fee despite service failures
Netflix-Meta Antitrust Lawsuit Eligibility
You may be eligible if you subscribed to Netflix’s video-streaming services at any time since August 9, 2017. The lawsuit alleges all Netflix subscribers during this period paid artificially inflated prices due to the lack of competition from Facebook Watch.
What Should Affected Consumers Do Now?
Monitor Case Developments: Track updates through official court records and reputable legal news sources. ClassAction.org and similar sites provide free settlement alerts when cases reach resolution.
Preserve Documentation: Keep records of your Netflix subscription, payment receipts, and any evidence of streaming problems you experienced during the fight (screenshots, videos, customer service communications).
Wait for Official Notification: If the case settles, class members will receive direct notification with claim form instructions and deadlines.
Do Not Pay to Join: Legitimate class action lawsuits never require consumers to pay fees to participate. Ignore any solicitations requesting payment.
Consider Individual Rights: Joining a class action means giving up your right to sue independently. Consult an attorney if you suffered significant individual damages beyond typical streaming disruptions.
Understanding Consumer Rights in Class Actions
Class action lawsuits allow large groups of consumers with similar claims to pursue legal action collectively. When cases are initially filed, consumers generally don’t need to opt-in or sign up. Only after a settlement is reached do class members need to submit claim forms to receive compensation.
Under the Sherman Act, antitrust violations entitle plaintiffs to recover three times their actual damages. This treble damages provision creates strong financial incentives for companies to avoid anticompetitive behavior.
Florida’s consumer protection statutes prohibit unfair and deceptive trade practices, allowing consumers to seek actual damages, attorney’s fees, and injunctive relief when businesses fail to deliver promised services.
Common Mistakes Consumers Make
Filing False Claims: Never submit fraudulent information on settlement claim forms. All submissions are made under penalty of perjury.
Missing Deadlines: If a settlement is reached, claim forms must be submitted by specific deadlines. Missing these dates forfeits your right to compensation.
Ignoring Class Notices: Read settlement notices carefully. They contain critical information about your rights, claim procedures, and opt-out deadlines.
Assuming Automatic Payment: Even in successful settlements, consumers must typically submit claim forms to receive payment. Compensation is rarely automatic.
How This Case Compares to Other Streaming Lawsuits
Netflix previously settled a $9 million class action lawsuit for allegedly violating the Video Privacy Protection Act by retaining customers’ rental histories for up to two years after subscription cancellations. That case involved privacy law violations rather than service delivery failures.
In 2022, shareholder Fiyyaz Pirani filed a securities fraud class action alleging Netflix made false and misleading statements about subscriber growth and retention before the company’s stock price plummeted in April 2022. That case targeted investor losses rather than consumer harm.
The Tyson-Paul lawsuit represents a unique category—service delivery failure during a specific live event affecting millions of paying subscribers simultaneously.
Netflix’s Response and Future Implications
Netflix CTO Elizabeth Stone acknowledged the technical challenges, stating the launch team “tackled brilliantly by prioritizing stability of the stream for the majority of viewers”. However, this claim contradicts the widespread reports of persistent problems.
When contacted by NBC Chicago about the streaming troubles, Netflix responded with “nothing to comment on at this time”. The company has not issued a formal legal response to either lawsuit.
The timing is critical for Netflix. The streaming giant has committed to broadcasting an NFL doubleheader on Christmas Day 2024, featuring games between major teams. A repeat of the Tyson-Paul technical disaster during these high-profile NFL games could severely damage Netflix’s credibility in the live sports streaming market.
Next Steps and Timeline
Both lawsuits remain in their early stages. The Tyson-Paul case will likely proceed through:
- Response Phase: Netflix must file an answer or motion to dismiss
- Discovery: Evidence gathering, including Netflix’s internal communications about capacity planning
- Class Certification: Court determines whether the case qualifies as a class action
- Settlement Negotiations or Trial: Cases may settle or proceed to jury trial
The antitrust lawsuit faces similar procedural steps but involves more complex legal questions about market definition and anticompetitive conduct.
Affected consumers should expect months or years before resolution. Class action lawsuits typically take 2-4 years to reach settlement or verdict.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Netflix class action lawsuit about?
Netflix faces a $50 million class action lawsuit over catastrophic streaming failures during the November 15, 2024 Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul boxing match that left approximately 50 million subscribers unable to watch the fight due to persistent buffering, service outages, and complete loss of access. A separate antitrust lawsuit alleges Netflix and Meta illegally agreed not to compete in streaming services.
Who is eligible to file a claim?
For the Tyson-Paul lawsuit: any U.S. Netflix subscriber who experienced streaming problems during the November 15, 2024 fight. For the Netflix-Meta antitrust case: anyone who subscribed to Netflix since August 9, 2017.
Is there a Netflix settlement claim form available?
No. The lawsuit has not been settled, and no claim form exists. If a settlement is reached, affected subscribers will be notified with claim form instructions and deadlines.
How much compensation could I receive?
The amount is not yet determined. The lawsuit seeks $50 million for the Tyson-Paul streaming failures, but individual payouts depend on the number of class members and any eventual settlement terms.
What should I do if I was affected?
Currently, no action is required. Monitor case developments through legal news sources. If a settlement is reached, you’ll receive notification with claim instructions. Preserve documentation of your subscription and streaming problems.
When will the lawsuit be resolved?
Class action lawsuits typically take 2-4 years to reach resolution through settlement or trial. Both Netflix lawsuits were filed in November 2024 and remain in early stages.
What are the legal claims in these lawsuits?
The Tyson-Paul lawsuit alleges breach of contract and violations of Florida’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act and Consumer Collection Practices Act. The antitrust lawsuit alleges violations of Section One of the Sherman Act for illegal market allocation agreements.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Lawsuit details, eligibility criteria, settlement terms, claim form requirements, and consumer rights may vary based on individual circumstances. Consult official court documents, review settlement terms independently, review the claim form instructions carefully, and contact the settlement administrator or an attorney for specific questions about claim eligibility, claim form completion, or participation.
For more information about class action lawsuits and consumer rights, visit ClassAction.org or consult with a qualified attorney. Case documents are available through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) for federal cases.
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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