LOS ANGELES -- The jury in the Raiders-NFL trial sent the
judge a new note Friday, a day after the panel sent a message that
said it was deadlocked on two issues in the team's $1.2 billion
lawsuit against the league.
The latest note contained two questions about evidence involving
a new stadium proposed in 1995 at Hollywood Park in Inglewood.
The Raiders, who had been playing at Memorial Coliseum, contend
the NFL forced the team to abandon plans to build the stadium by
pushing for a second team to play there. The Raiders also say they
own the rights to the Los Angeles market.
The league denies both claims.
The note sent Friday to Superior Court Judge Richard C. Hubbell
was shown only to lawyers on both sides without the judge or jury
in the courtroom. The attorneys submitted written replies to
Hubbell, who considered them in replying to the jury's question.
The jury later recessed for the weekend as scheduled.
The jury sent its first note Thursday informing the judge that
they had deadlocked on two issues. Hubbell responded by directing
the jury to keep deliberating.
The panel first began deliberations on April 30, then had to
begin again on May 4 after the jury foreman was excused to take a
long-planned vacation. He was replaced by an alternate.
Both sides in the lawsuit were reluctant to interpret the
developments.
"From time to time juries need to ask questions if something is
important and needs to be cleared up," said Joe Alioto, lead
attorney for the Raiders.
NFL spokesman Joe Browne said it appeared the jury was working
to "make a decision based on logic and fact rather than
emotions."
The Raiders, who moved from Oakland to Los Angeles in 1982,
returned to Oakland before the 1995 season.
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