Here’s the Insider’s post-game analysis of Anaheim’s lawsuit loss against the Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim): The city may have dropped the ball in two areas,juror selection and “credibility.” Angels owner Arte Moreno, who reportedly outspent Anaheim on legal fees by roughly $7 million to $3 million, had a jury consultant in the courtroom. The city didn’t. Surprisingly, neither side used any of their six peremptory challenges to remove a sitting juror; the 9-3 verdict suggests the city miscalculated. “Jury selection is like a chess game and we were fortunate,” said winning defense lawyer George Stephan of Stephan, Oringher, Richman, Theodora & Miller. The city’s bid for $373 million in damages, a figure far beyond its $21 million stadium investment, also raised eyebrows. “If you want to turn a juror off, overreach,” said trial lawyer and Anaheim resident Wylie Aitken, who had advised the city to sue. No apologies from the city’s lead lawyer, Andy Guilford of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton. He said he’s replayed the trial in his mind and “wouldn’t change anything of significance,” including the work his own jury consultants did outside the courtroom. Guilford said the steep damage claim was based on sound analysis: “What would IBM pay to be called the IBM Yankees for 30 years? It might be a billion dollars.” Guilford stressed that Anaheim’s request for “injunctive relief” will be heard March 2: “It’s not over till it’s over, to use a baseball phrase.” He maintained there’s a good chance Superior Court Judge Peter Polos will give Anaheim what it’s really wanted,the name “Anaheim Angels” back. Some lawyers call that a remote possibility. These are pivotal days for Guilford. Nominated by President Bush for a federal judgeship, he’s likely in the bottom of the ninth of his lawyer career, trying to pull one out for his final client. Guilford, a big Angels fan, said if Anaheim loses the name battle, “I will never go to another baseball game in Orange County, and that would be sad” …
Presidential prospect Rudy Giuliani is scheduled for another visit to OC, to headline the local GOP’s Flag Day Dinner on June 13 …
The headline in Crain’s Chicago Business says it all: “Top job for Tribune chief: Fix L.A. Times”…
Hey Mickadeit, EE RR missed you: Six guys had a three-course lunch at Shady Canyon with Twyla Martin, Kristina Dodge and 100 other glamorous women, while slinky models presented the Escada spring/summer collection. It was a buildup to next year’s opening of the Marion Knott Studios at Chapman U. One of the guys, Dean Bob Bassett, boasted that 1,000 students applied this year for 180 spots at the film school, and his faculty has more feature film credits (more than 100) than the faculty of any other film school, “even NYU.” No more to report, it was hard to take notes.
