"The city of Anaheim is already on the hook for more than $2 million in legal fees for the Angels lawsuit. (In theory, it also could get socked with Arte Moreno's costs, but that's rare in a case in which there's no attorneys' fees clause in the contract.) There will be political pressure to drop the matter and not appeal the verdict.

"The council members who sat there day after day know a few things the average city resident or pundit doesn't: the strength of the city's case, that one of the three appellate judges has already ruled for the city, and that the cost of an appeal would be a mere fraction of what the trial cost. When you weigh the risk-reward of throwing a few more bucks at a chance to win $100 million or more (and get the name back!), you could see why the council would go in that direction.

"Not to mention that by appealing the decision, the city somewhat ties Moreno's hands for at least another 18 months. He'd be foolish to go whole hog on the further Los Angelization of the Angels while there was a chance he could still lose. And, I almost forgot, there's still a chance Judge Peter Polos could essentially disagree with Thursday's verdict and on March 2 grant an injunction requiring Moreno to restore the Anaheim Angels name - a long shot, but one that would make him a judicial hero of Sirica-like proportions locally."

In the first paragraph above, Mickadeit seems to be suggesting that Arte is less likely to recover attorneys' fees than alot of us have assumed because there is no provision for such recovery in the original lease agreement.

Link:

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/article_997847.php

'The Anaheim City Council will wait until a judge rules on a request to block the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim name before deciding whether to appeal last week's jury verdict.

'Orange County Superior Court Judge Peter Polos is set to hear the city's request March 2. Polos can rule against the jury, which said the team's name did not violate the stadium lease.

'"This is not about monetary damages. This is about getting our name back," Mayor Curt Pringle said after the council discussed the matter in closed session Tuesday.

'Seven speakers addressed the council about the issue.

'One resident, Allan Davis, called for Pringle to resign. If not, Davis said, he plans to take out recall papers.'

Link:

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/atoz/article_999316.php