A new year brings new legal questions and we have plenty of them. On Monday’s monthly Legal Roundtable segment, “St. Louis on the Air” convened a panel of law experts to discuss pressing issues of the day. On the top of our minds: Do those Rams lawsuits have legs to stand on?
After NFL owners voted on Jan. 12 to move the Rams from St. Louis to Los Angeles, a group of fans filed a lawsuit that owner Stan Kroenke and chief operating officer Kevin Demoff had deceived fans under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act. Later, another group of personal seat licensees said they should be able to keep their seat licenses and season tickets even as the Rams relocate to Los Angeles.
The guests joining the show each had their own take:
- Justin Hansford, J.D., Assistant Professor of Law, Saint Louis University
"I think they may have a case," said Hansford. "One of the arguments is that the Rams did manifest an intent to keep the team in St. Louis as manifested by statements they made, talking about being here to 2032 and beyond. The extent that these licenses were purchased with the understanding that was the Rams' intent, they may have a case for fraud."
- Mark Smith, associate vice chancellor and director of the Career Center at Washington University
"For the personal seat licensees, it seems like it is a basic contract claim," said Smith. "... If it is a contract claim, even if they could establish what those personal seat licenses said, if they could prove a breach of contract, they'd get damages, which would be whatever the fair market value of the right to buy a seat at the Rams game in L.A."
"They are transferrable licenses, that suggests to me they may have a case."
- Bill Freivogel, professor in the school of journalism at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
"It seems to me that whenever there are lawsuits filed inconnection to these moves, that they don't usually get anywhere," said Freivogel. "Maybe a St. Louis court would be sympathetic, but in the long run I don't see courts allowing the Missouri Merchandise Act to interfere with the moving of the professional football franchise."
Could the Rams end up paying for the amount owed on the Edward Jones Dome if a lawsuit were filed in that regard?
No, said Freivogel and Smith. "Legally, we got screwed," said Smith.
Other topics of conversation included:
- Missouri House passes bill to put photo voter ID requirement on ballot as constitutional amendment
- St. Louis police use of force policy criticized by activists
- Press corps exiled from Missouri Senate floor
- Supreme Court of the United States:
- Missouri Church-State case
- Union membership case
- President Obama’s Immigration Actions
St. Louis on the Air brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh and producers Mary Edwards, Alex Heuer and Kelly Moffitt give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region.