When Anaheim goes before a judge on Friday to argue against Arte Moreno’s controversial name change for the Angels baseball team, it’ll rely on a familiar face.
(See update under Latest Local News.)
Michael Rubin, a public law partner with Costa Mesa’s Rutan & Tucker LLP, has represented the city in previous disputes with the team and is set to appear before a judge Friday morning to argue on the city’s behalf.
Rutan has worked for Anaheim for years. The firm has a big public law practice, representing a number of California municipalities.
Rubin represented Anaheim in a suit filed by the Angels in 1983 to halt city-approved development on part of the stadium parking lot, saying it violated the Angels’ lease. A judge ruled in 1988 that the city could develop part of the parking lot, as long as the minimum number of parking spaces enumerated in the lease was preserved.
Rutan spokesman Roger Bloom said Anaheim City Attorney Jack White decided to tap Rutan & Tucker again several weeks ago, anticipating a possible legal clash with Moreno.
Moreno earlier this week changed the team’s name to Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, prompting the city to sue the team for what it sees as a violation of the team’s lease at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
Team officials said that the name switch would strengthen the Angels’ long-term economic health by enhancing its marketability through the metropolitan area and beyond.
The move got a thumb’s up from some sports marketing analysts who said the name change could lead to gains in TV revenue and merchandise sales.
Rutan & Tucker’s Rubin is set to argue for a temporary restraining order that would restrict Moreno from implementing the name change. Rutan’s Bloom said the judge could render a decision before the end of the day or by Monday.
“Typically requests for temporary restraining orders get a pretty quick ruling,” he said.
Rutan & Tucker also in the past represented Anaheim on the expansion of the Disneyland resort, including eminent domain matters.
