Judge dismisses San Jose antitrust claims against MLB
Source: San Jose Mercury News
SAN JOSE -- A federal judge Friday dismissed San Jose's antitrust claims against Major League Baseball over the Oakland A's stalled relocation plan but allowed the city to pursue a contract interference case.
U.S. District Judge Ronald M. Whyte in a 26-page ruling agreed with MLB that a series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions dating to 1922 granted an exemption from antitrust law to the entire "business of baseball" including team relocation. He also dismissed the city's unfair competition claims.
"Ninety-nine percent of this case is gone," MLB lawyer John Keker said. "And we're confident that once the rest of the case is developed, the rest of the case will be gone."
But Whyte upheld the city's right to pursue a case arguing that MLB interfered with an option agreement between the A's and San Jose for downtown ballpark land. Lawyers for San Jose saw that as a victory for the city and the A's, who lost a playoff series against Detroit Thursday.
Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/politics-government/ci_24290747/judge-dismisses-san-jose-antitrust-claims-against-mlb
See also:
-San Francisco Chronicle: Judge says baseball can block A's move to San Jose
-AP: Judge rejects San Jose antitrust claims vs. MLB
-Reuters: Judge dismisses most of San Jose lawsuit over Oakland A's move
-Bloomberg News: MLB Wins Dismissal of San Jose Antitrust Claims in A’s Case
