Lawyers would like to speak to more team and league officials regarding the Rams' relocationGETTY IMAGES
Lawyers representing the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Authority Complex and the city and county of St. Louis on Friday filed a motion to "exceed deposition limitations in terms of number of depositions conducted and the length of time permitted for four of them" -- those of Rams Owner Stan Kroenke, Rams COO Kevin Demoff, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and former NFL Exec VP/Business Operations Eric Grubman, according to Ben Frederickson of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. The plaintiffs are "requesting two seven-hour days for each of the separate depositions of Goodell, Grubman, Kroenke, and Demoff." And instead of 10 depositions, the plaintiffs "want 42." That 42-person list "includes NFL officials who were intimately involved in the relocation process," such as Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, who "helped lead the charge for the Rams' return to California." Other officials on the list include Chargers Owner Dean Spanos, who "pitched the relocation plan the league rejected," and former Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson, who "reportedly pushed for the Rams to remain in St. Louis." A "representative of every team is included in the group of 42." There is a "clear intent to include those specifically involved in the vote that green-lighted the Rams' move." A jury trial is set to begin Oct. 25, 2021 (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 8/11).
NOT GOING AWAY: The POST-DISPATCH's Frederickson writes of the deposition requests, "A story the NFL wants buried is back again, and this time the nuisance came with an invitation that can’t be ignored. That’s the thing about those pesky notices of depositions. You can’t just hope they go away." The "only way this thing stops now is either settlement or jury trial" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 8/11).
