A pickleball paddle manufacturer seemingly found itself in a pickle after being sued in a class action lawsuit. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America,[i] mingling elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, enjoyed by folks of all ages, beginners and experts alike. It is a highly social game that promotes community, exercise, and having fun.

Luckily for the manufacturer, Sport Squad, Inc., an early case settlement materialized. The case is Matus v. Sport Squad, Inc,[ii]  in which the Court approved a nationwide class action settlement involving allegedly mislabeled pickleball paddles. The case was initiated on behalf of nationwide and multi-state purchasers of pickleball paddles from November 2023 to present. The magistrate judge recommended granting preliminary approval of the provisional class, appointment of a class representative, appointment of counsel for the class, preliminary settlement approval, and other class action requirements.

What Happened

Greg Matus, a purchaser of a pickleball paddle from Sport Squad, Inc., filed a class action suit alleging unjust enrichment, breach of warranty, and violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act against Sport Squad, Inc., doing business as JOOLA.[iii] Joola produced and sold Joola Gen 3 pickleball paddles, which bore a label claiming the pickleball paddles were approved by the USA Pickleball Association.  However, the labels were not approved by the USA Pickleball Association according to the Plaintiff. While the essence of the report and recommendation is that the parties to the class action suit have reached a resolution, it is important to note that Sport Squad, Inc., filed a third-party complaint against the USA Pickleball Association for indemnification and contribution.[iv]  In one suit, Sport Squad, Inc., alleged that the USA Pickleball Association had abruptly revoked its approval for the Joola Gen 3 pickleball paddles.[v]

Who Is in the Class and What Do They Get?

The class members are defined as:

All persons residing within the United States who own and have in their possession a JOOLA Gen 3 Paddle. Persons who accepted JOOLA’s prior offer to tender and return their Gen 3 Paddle are not part of the Settlement Class; however, if a Gen 3 Paddle holder has more than one Gen 3 Paddle and did not already return all of their Gen 3 Paddles, such purchaser may still be part of the class as to the remainder of the paddles that were not previously returned. Excluded from the Settlement Class are Defendant and its officers, directors, affiliates, legal representatives, employees, assigns and successors, and Defendant’s Authorized Retailers.[vi]

What Do Class Members Get?

Class members can receive a $300 refund with proof of purchase of their paddle.[vii]  Members without proof of purchase will receive a gift code for $150 for use at www.joola.com.[viii]  Sport Squad, Inc. is also responsible for the plaintiff’s attorney’s fees and expenses up to $790,000.[ix]

Conclusion

Sometimes choosing your match and early resolution are the most prudent measure for resolving cases even when there is a strong viable defense. This is especially true when there are multiple parties with extensive claims, substantial financial risk, and a long road ahead in terms of litigation. Sport Squad, Inc., found itself in a body bag Joola Gen 3 pickleball paddle purchaser after being named in a class action lawsuit over selling Joola Gen 3 pickleball paddles that were purportedly dubbed as being approved by the USA Pickleball Association. Sport Squad, Inc. asserted a third-party complaint against the USA Pickleball Association claiming that the pickleball paddles had been preapproved by the USA Pickleball Association but the certification and approval was subsequently and abruptly revoked. Instead of pursuing costly and lengthy litigation in a class action suit, Sport Squad, Inc. elected to resolve the suit and pursue indemnification and contribution from the USA Pickleball Association.[xi] In short, Sport Squad, Inc. decided to resolve the match with Matus to avoid “getting pickled”.

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Sources

[i] Pickleball.com, Pickleball was fastest-growing sport in U.S. for fourth consecutive year, according to SFIA, Feb 28, 2025, https://pickleball.com/industry/pickleball-was-fastest-growing-sport-in-u-s-for-fourth-consecutive-year-according-to-sfia.

[ii] Matus v. Sport Squad, Inc., 24-60954, slip op. 2025 WL 2406315 (S.D. Fla. August 11, 2025).

[iii] Id at 1.

[iv] Id at 4.

[v] Sport Squad, Inc., v. USA Pickleball Assn., Def.’s Mot. To Dismiss CC, 24-01712 (D. Md June 9, 2025).

[vi] Id at 1.

[vii] Id at 1.

[viii] Id at 1.

[ix] Id at 1.

[x] Thedinkpickleball.com, Pickleball Slang Terms You Should Know, May 30, 2023, https://www.thedinkpickleball.com/slang-terms.

[xi] Id at 4.