Raiders In Court: Coliseum Responds; Trademark Suit Tossed

Attorneys for the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Board yesterday in a cross examination of former Board President George Vukasin made the argument that Raiders Owner Al Davis "had several chances to make a sold-out stadium a condition of the team's return," but did not, according to Paul Rosynsky of the OAKLAND TRIBUNE. Coliseum attorney James Brosnahan "used various documents to show the Coliseum was never in charge of marketing season tickets or [PSLs], and therefore should not be held responsible" for the non-sellouts (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 4/22). But in Sacramento, Ramon Coronado reports that attorneys for the Raiders produced a July '95 press release that stated the games for that season "were sold out in the first round of a marketing effort." Vukasin, in his third day of testimony, admitted that the press release "was wrong." Vukasin: "I was under the impression during the month of July and August that all seats were sold." Vukasin added that while his name appeared on the press release, it was "prepared by others who worked out of a `confused' marketing office, headed by Marc Ganis, who was later fired." Meanwhile, Judge Richard Park said, "The animosity I've seen in this case is the worst I've seen in 19 years." During Vukasin's testimony, Park "scolded the lawyers in front of the jury for lacing their questions with `editorial comment and lectures'" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 4/22).

UNMARKED: In CA, Barry Witt reports that Santa Clara Co. Judge John Herlihy has dismissed the Raiders' suit seeking to prevent the Bucs and Panthers from wearing their uniforms in CA because they violate the Raiders' trademark rights. Herlihy did not rule on the merits of the case, but said that the issue "would have to be resolved in federal court." The team is considering filing in federal court (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 4/22).