Raiders case goes to trial

[The_Philster]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (April 13, 2003 4:43 p.m. EDT) - The dispute between Raiders owner Al Davis and the city of Oakland enters a new phase Monday - a fraud trial expected to last two months with what the team says is $1 billion at stake.

At issue is whether the city of Oakland and Alameda County deceived Davis into bringing the NFL team back to the Oakland Coliseum. The team returned to Oakland in 1995 after 13 seasons in Los Angeles.

Davis contends he was lured back on the false promise of a sold-out stadium, and government officials say he made up the claim to back out of a lease through 2010.

A jury in Sacramento County Superior Court hears opening statements Monday in the civil trial....more (http://www.sportserver.com/football/nfl/story/852837p-5976543c.html)

[The_Philster]

Monday was Groundhog Day at Al Davis' house, which means he came out the front door, saw a court date and a lawyer, and thereby signaled the beginning of spring.

We haven't seen much of Al since Super Bowl Sunday, when Jon Gruden inserted his foot deep inside Raider Nation and kept it there for the world to see. Al did attend the owners' meetings in Phoenix in March, but otherwise kept in training for his latest lawsuit, which began Monday in picturesque Sacramento....more (http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/ratto_ray/1538849.html)