Round Two in Naming War Between Anaheim, Angels Baseball

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Get ready for round two in the naming war between the city of Anaheim and Angels Baseball LP.


Friday morning, the parties are set to face off again over Angels owner Arte Moreno’s decision earlier this month to rename the team the “Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.”


The city is seeking a preliminary injunction that would prohibit the team from using the new name pending a trial. The city believes Moreno’s move violates the team’s lease at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.


Round one went to Moreno: Orange County Superior Court Judge Peter Polos declined to issue a temporary injunction against the name change on Jan. 7. He said he didn’t believe the city would suffer irreparable harm between Jan. 7 and Jan. 21 because of the new team name.


Polos is set to oversee Friday’s proceedings.


Legal sources said that they don’t believe the city stands a good chance of winning a trial if it loses again tomorrow. Anaheim could seek a settlement if it loses. Mayor Curt Pringle said he’s confident the city will win.


Meanwhile, the city of Los Angeles jumped into the fray Wednesday. It filed a legal brief arguing the court should nix Moreno’s bid to use the Los Angeles’ name it “abandoned long ago,” according to the filing. The brief was expected to be considered Thursday.


The Orange County office of Los Angeles law firm Stephan, Oringher, Richman & Theodora has provided counsel to the Angels in the dispute. Attorney Todd Theodora, who is based out of the firm’s Costa Mesa office, was lead counsel for the team Jan. 7.


Stephan, Oringher’s team has been working with Atlanta-based Powell Goldstein LLP, which acts as outside general counsel for the Angels. Theodora said Powell would be lead counsel for the proceedings on Friday.


Attorneys from law firm Rutan & Tucker LLP again will represent the city of Anaheim as it did on Jan. 7. Rutan partner Michael Rubin has represented the city in previous disputes with the team..

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