High court to hear Raiders' appeal

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Apr 6, 2007 | by Gene WarnickSTAFF

LOS ANGELES -- Apparently, Al Davis's mantra of "Just win, baby" extends to the courtroom.

At least, there is one case the Oakland Raiders owner refuses to lose.

The Raiders have asked the state Supreme Court to reinstate their $1.2 billion lawsuit against the National Football League. The suit accuses the league of forcing the team out of Los Angeles following the 1994 season by sabotaging plans to build a new stadium at Hollywood Park in Inglewood.

The NFL won a 9-3 verdict in 2001, but Los Angeles County Superior Court judge Richard Hubbell ordered a new trial because there were accusations of jury misconduct. One juror was said to be biased against the team, apparently because he once lost a bet on the Raiders, and another juror, a lawyer, was said to have given legal advice to the jury that contradicted the judge's instructions.

Hubbell's ruling was overturned in 2005 by the 2nd District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles, which said the Raiders failed to prove either juror did anything wrong, but the state Supreme Court agreed last summer to review the case.

That happened Wednesday in Los Angeles.

"The trial court found the Raiders didn't get a fair jury trial," said Larry Feldman, who is helping represent the Raiders. "If (the state Supreme Court) affirms that decision, we'll go back to the trial court. If they don't, the case is over."

Feldman, a California State University, Northridge, alumnus, has several high-profile court victories to his credit, including a $156 million verdict on behalf of 700 physicians who alleged fraud against an insurance company. He also helped win a settlement in a molestation case against pop star Michael Jackson, and has represented late attorney Johnnie Cochran.

Feldman refused to predict victory in this case, however.

"You can't tell at this stage (with the Supreme Court)," Feldman said.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told NFL.com after the state Supreme Court decided to hear the case that the league expects to beat the Raiders.

Aiello noted the jury ruled in the NFL's favor, as did the appellate court.

"We are confident that when the California Supreme Court reviews the case, it will reach the same conclusion," Aiello said.

The state Supreme Court's ruling, due in the next 90 days, won't return the Raiders to Los Angeles. The team's lease at Oakland- Alameda County Coliseum runs through 2011.