Post by TheShadow on Nov 18, 2006 13:00:16 GMT -5
NFL.com wire reports
SAN FRANCISCO (Nov. 17, 2006) -- A state appeals court threw out a
jury's $34.2 million award to the Oakland Raiders over accusations that
managers of the Oakland Coliseum falsely promised a sold-out stadium to
lure the team back to the Bay Area.
The case dates to 1995, when Raiders owner Al Davis maneuvered to get
his team out of Southern California after revenues waned, the Los
Angeles Memorial Coliseum's foundation was shaken by an earthquake and
a deal collapsed to build a new stadium and horse track.
The Oakland deal, first inked in 1995 and renegotiated a year later,
gave the Raiders a $53 million loan, $10 million for a training complex
and $100 million to renovate the coliseum, which they share with
baseball's Oakland Athletics.
The 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento said in a 2-1 ruling
that because the Raiders agreed to the deal a second time, the team
forfeited its right to sue for fraud.
The coliseum, owned by the city of Oakland and Alameda County, also
maintained any box office flop should be partly blamed on pricey
tickets and poor performances. The team's abysmal 4-12 season in its
third year after returning was one of the worst since Davis took over
four decades ago.
Stadium officials also argued the team's owners got richer by returning
to Oakland and that Davis was told up front where ticket sales stood
when he signed the initial pact.
Raiders general counsel Jeff Birren said the team was considering an
appeal to the California Supreme Court.