The Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke and the NFL offered $100 million to settle tlitigation last month, according to media reports.
Front Office Sports alleged that counsel for St. Louis rejected the offer, which was reportedly discussed with NFL counsel Jeff Pash in New York at an owner’s meeting.
Local experts on the matter aren’t surprised but they paint a different picture.
“I had been told that early on in the process there had been an offer made through an intermediary,” said Randy Karraker, 101 ESPN Radio morning host. "I was told a different, lower amount but I was also told that the St Louis interests just laughed it off. They didn't even consider it a serious offer when it was made and this was several years ago.”
The St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority, the City of St. Louis, and the County of St. Louis sued the Los Angeles Rams and Rams owner Stan Kroenke in 2017 for leaving St. Louis city and county officials on the hook financially for a new stadium that was never built.
“I have not been told that there was an offer made recently so this might be a League leak,” Karraker told the St. Louis Record. “From what my understanding is, from the St Louis standpoint, they have not had direct contact with the league’s attorneys regarding a settlement like that.”
Last week, St. Louis attorneys filed a motion in limine for which they requested a protective seal. Such a motion is typically filed when a party to litigation wants to prevent certain evidence from being presented at court.
“My guess is that it would be to remove some evidence that the League has and wouldn't allow the League to even mention,” Karraker said. “In court, on several occasions, the judge has admonished NFL attorneys because they brought up the lease at the Edward Jones dome that the Rams went year to year on and the St. Louis side is insistent that everything, in this case, occurred after the Rams went year to year on the dome lease. So the dome lease is not a factor in this case. My guess would be that the St Louis side probably has asked that any mention of the dome lease be prohibited.”
A pre-trial hearing is set for Dec. 3 and jury trial proceedings are scheduled to begin on Jan. 10.
“Right now, the way the lawsuit reads with the fraud charge and the unjust enrichment for which St. Louis is looking for in damages, they’re at $3.9 billion,” Karraker added. “So, $100 million dollars is not going to pacify St. Louis.”