top of page

EXCLUSIVE: NFL Files Emergency Writ to Appeals Court to Move Trial Out of St. Louis

Updated: Aug 6, 2022

BY: DAN LUST, DAN WALLACH AND STEPHANIE WEISSENBURGER

Conduct Detrimental has obtained a copy of the NFL's emergency application seeking leave to file under seal their petition for writ of prohibition. In short, this is a further attempt by the NFL to move the trial for the Rams' relocation matter out of St. Louis. We provide full details here.


By way of brief background, on August 31, 2021, the Rams, Stanley Kroenke and the NFL had their Application for a Change of Venue denied by Judge Christopher McGraugh. This denial meant that the trial, which is scheduled for January 10, 2022, would remain in St. Louis. However, the NFL and Kroenke & Co are now seeking to overturn that decision and move the case to a different location.


On Friday, October 1, the NFL and Kroenke & Co filed a petition for writ of prohibition in the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District. A writ of prohibition is an appellate court's written order to prohibit a lower court from acting because it does not have jurisdiction to do so. Therefore, this writ of prohibition is specifically designed to overturn Judge McGraugh’s decision. A copy of the Motion is attached below without the corresponding exhibits.

In their filing, the NFL and Kroenke & Co discuss the “inflammatory pretrial publicity in the St. Louis metropolitan area and its demonstrated effect on the prospective jury pool in St. Louis City… [which] will further jeopardize Defendants’ right to a fair trial if their Writ Petition is denied and the case is ultimately tried in St. Louis City.” Simply put, they argue that “there is no way to eliminate the undue influence of Plaintiffs over prospective jurors in St. Louis City given Plaintiffs’ sweeping damages claim for alleged losses to City residents of jobs, economic development, and civic pride.” A copy of the Writ Summary is attached below.

This is a potential turning point in the case.


Should the trial remain in St. Louis, the Plaintiffs (St. Louis Regional Convention & Sports Complex Authority, the City of St. Louis, and the County of St. Louis) will have a decisive advantage. This is akin to home-field advantage in football, naturally. In fact, the NFL and Kroenke & Co go as far to say that, “Without a change of venue, [they] will be denied their constitutional right to a trial before a fair and impartial jury.” Furthermore, they ask that “the Court issue a preliminary and permanent writ of prohibition ordering Respondent to transfer this cause to a venue outside the metropolitan St. Louis area where no prejudice exists.”


To the extent that the NFL and Kroenke & Co win on this writ challenging venue, it will certainly be a gamechanger in this rapidly evolving action. Keep a very close eye on the outcome of this writ as it will have a tremendous impact on the resolution of the case and a potential settlement.


This story will be updated as more details are provided. Be sure to follow us on Conduct Detrimental. Dan Lust @SportsLawLust, Dan Wallach @WallachLegal and Stephanie Weissenburger @SWeissenburger_.

8 Σχόλια


When you play Speed Stars , you become a top speedrunner and fight in fast races to win difficult tracks. Do you think you're very good at time, speed, accuracy, and rhythm?

Μου αρέσει

Tom Walters
Tom Walters
28 Ιουν

Do you want to play Scribbl io? You may play this game for free on FNAF 4. A lot of fun to play while you're bored at home or at school.

Μου αρέσει

Jovi Bon
Jovi Bon
27 Ιουν

Slope launches you into an exhilarating sprint through neon pandemonium; dodge, jump, and maintain your course as the speed increases steadily!

Μου αρέσει

divya verma
divya verma
13 Ιαν

Sprunki Mods are a revolutionary collection of add-ons that elevate the Sprunki experience. Each phase embodies a unique blend of immersive themes, dynamic soundscapes, and captivating visuals, offering endless opportunities for customization and creativity.

Μου αρέσει

Devid Paul
Devid Paul
25 Νοε 2024

The NFL's latest move to file an emergency writ to relocate the Rams' relocation trial from St. Louis adds another layer of complexity to an already high-stakes case. Their argument hinges on concerns about pretrial publicity and its potential influence on the St. Louis jury pool. While the denial of their initial change of venue request by Judge McGraugh solidified the trial's location, this writ of prohibition seeks to overturn that decision. It’s clear the NFL is pulling out all the stops to ensure what they see as a fair trial, but this also highlights the broader implications of the case for St. Louis residents, including claims of economic and civic damages. It'll be interesting to see how the appeals…

Μου αρέσει
bottom of page