Paddle Manufacturer Sport Squad: Sport Squad Inc., a pickleball paddle manufacturer, is facing a consumer protection lawsuit after a Florida district court allowed multiple claims to proceed. The lawsuit alleges that Sport Squad sold paddles marked as USA Pickleball (USAP) approved, even though they were later decertified due to an administrative error.
Allegations of Mislabeling and Consumer Fraud
The complaint, filed by Greg Matus in June 2024, claims that Sport Squad engaged in a bait-and-switch by selling uncertified paddles at a retail price of $279.95. Matus stated that he would not have purchased the paddles if he had known they were not officially approved. His amended complaint includes claims of:
Unjust enrichment
Breach of express warranty
Breach of implied warranty
Violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA)
Sport Squad’s Defense and Dispute with USA Pickleball
Sport Squad argues that the issue arose from a certification mix-up in 2023. The company initially submitted two prototype paddles, which were approved by USAP. Later, nine market versions of these paddles were sent for testing and also received approval. Sport Squad then manufactured over 100,000 paddles.
However, in April 2024, USAP raised concerns about compliance, and by May 2024, the paddles were officially decertified. Sport Squad maintains that this decision was unfair and that the paddles should have passed USAP’s similarity tests.
To challenge this decision, Sport Squad sued USAP in June 2024, arguing that the de-certification harmed the company and consumers. In January 2025, Sport Squad filed a third-party complaint to bring USAP into the Matus lawsuit, claiming that any damages should be paid by USAP, not Sport Squad.
Court Rulings and Case Status
In December 2024, the Florida district court dismissed the breach of express and implied warranty claims because Matus did not notify Sport Squad in time. However, the court allowed the FDUTPA and unjust enrichment claims to proceed, stating that the USAP-approved stamp may have misled consumers.
The lawsuit remains ongoing, with potential additional consumer protection claims under non-Florida laws still in play. Sport Squad continues to defend its actions, insisting that USAP is responsible for the decertification and any consumer harm.
News in Brief: Paddle Manufacturer Sport Squad
Sport Squad Inc. faces a consumer protection lawsuit after a Florida court allowed claims over mislabeling of pickleball paddles to proceed. The company argues that the de-certification was unfair, while plaintiff Greg Matus claims he was misled. The case could impact future paddle certifications and consumer protections in pickleball.
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