Judge dismisses $341,000 Pokemon Professor

A federal judge has dismissed a $341,000 lawsuit against Nintendo and The Pokemon Company. Kyle Owens, a 34-year-old Iowa man, sued after being denied certification as an official Pokemon Professor.

US District Judge Leonard Strand dismissed the case on September 1. He found Owens failed to state a valid legal claim, describing the lawsuit as a "completely frivolous waste of the court's time and resources," according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch.

Lawsuit claims and dismissal

Owens filed the lawsuit in May. He alleged the companies violated federal antitrust laws by blocking his path to becoming a Pokemon Professor. He sought at least $341,000 in damages, official certification, restored access to tools, and the right to host sanctioned Pokemon events.

Judge Strand was not persuaded. He called the claimed damages "dubious, if not outright absurd." The judge noted that Pokemon Professors are volunteers who receive benefits like swag, prizes, and points for a store.

Background check dispute

Owens claimed he scored 100% on the Pokemon Professor exam in March 2024. Certification was still contingent on passing a background check. A report submitted with his lawsuit listed three Pennsylvania charges from 2022: disorderly conduct, an offense involving weapons, and criminal mischief. Each charge had a pending warrant for failure to appear.

Owens argued the charges were not convictions. He accused Pokemon of changing its explanation for denying him and claimed the rejection cost him business opportunities linked to hosting official events. The court rejected his antitrust argument. Strand ruled that requiring background checks for volunteers involved with a product aimed partly at children was reasonable and did not harm competition.

Other claims and a warning

Owens's additional legal claims were also dismissed. These included breach of implied contract, promissory estoppel, and interference with prospective business opportunities.

The ruling revealed Owens had filed four federal lawsuits within several months, all failing to establish valid claims. Judge Strand issued a warning. Any further frivolous filings could result in financial sanctions, starting with the standard civil filing fee and increasing if the behavior continued.

This is not the only legal action involving Pokemon this year. The company faces a proposed class-action lawsuit related to a former executive accused of secretly filming people in bathrooms.