Commanders to pay fine, refunds in settlement

The Commanders "must pay a $425,000 fine" to D.C. and "refund the more than $200,000 in deposits to D.C. ticket holders as part of a settlement" reached with the office of D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb. The Commanders did "not admit to the allegations, under the terms of the settlement." The lawsuit was filed in the civil division of the D.C. Superior Court last November by outgoing D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine, who alleged the team implemented “an illegal scheme to cheat District ticket holders out of their deposits for season tickets and use the money for its own purposes.” Another lawsuit filed by Racine’s office is "ongoing" and accuses the Commanders, team owner Daniel Snyder, the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell of "colluding to deceive and mislead customers about an investigation of the team’s workplace in order maintain its fan base in pursuit of revenue" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/10).