A Sacramento Superior Court judge refused to "rescind"
the Raiders' lease at Network Associates Coliseum last week
and tentatively ruled that the team "must play in Oakland 11
more years," according to Laura Counts of the OAKLAND
TRIBUNE. But the issues of whether the team was "duped into
signing the contracts to play" in Oakland and whether it is
"entitled to millions of dollars in damages because of the
alleged fraud" will be decided by a jury. Judge Joe Gray
"will hear further arguments" at a hearing today in
Sacramento and "could change his mind." On Friday, Gray
said in his ruling that the Raiders "unreasonably delayed"
before attempting to void their 16-year lease in Oakland.
Gray also found a provision in the lease that "waived [the
team's] right to rescission." Meanwhile, Brown "tossed out"
the city of Oakland and Alameda County's claims against the
Raiders "related to interference with the UMAX stadium
naming rights deal," ruling that they "will not have to pay
the public entities' legal bills in a joint legal dispute
with the NFL over revenue sharing." This will allow the
Raiders to proceed with their suit against the city, county,
Arthur Andersen and former Coliseum board member Ed DeSilva,
regarding PSL sales at the stadium. However, the "main
purpose" of the city and county's claim against the team was
getting a judge to rule that it is "bound" to play in
Oakland through 2011 (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 2/20).
