Angels, Anaheim Agree to Drop Suits Over Sign

The California Angels and the City of Anaheim tentatively agreed Tuesday to settle one of the remaining disputes in their long-running court battle: Both sides said they would drop claims regarding the round Union 76 sign at Anaheim Stadium.

The Angels filed a lawsuit in 1985 demanding that the city remove the Union 76 sign because one of the baseball club’s sponsors is Chevron Corp. The city filed a cross-complaint alleging that the Angels were guilty of unfair business practices and violation of antitrust laws by trying to prohibit Anaheim from selling advertising space.

Attorneys for Anaheim were notified Monday of the club’s intention to drop the lawsuit if Anaheim would agree to drop its cross-complaint, said Michael D. Rubin, an attorney for the city.

City Council members, during a closed session Tuesday afternoon, agreed to the offer, provided that the Angels agree not to file a similar claim.

Angels Vice President Michael Schreter said the Angels offered to drop the lawsuit because “it’s a new council, it’s a new year and we’re faced with hundreds of thousands of dollars again with another peripheral lawsuit. Mr. Autry (Angels owner Gene Autry) discussed with us the need to start off the new year with good relations.”

In September, the city and the Angels agreed to dismiss most of the claims they have filed against each other during the past two years over the future of the Anaheim Stadium parking lot. During those negotiations, the two sides agreed to no longer seek damages in the Union 76 lawsuit and to leave a decision on whether the sign should remain to an arbitrator.

Officials from both sides said dropping what they call the “advertisement” lawsuit will save money and improve relations between the Angels and the city.

Councilman Fred Hunter called the Angels’ offer to drop the lawsuit “a good gesture” and said it “shows that everybody needs to get back to the negotiating table and try to hammer out a settlement” of the $100-million parking lot lawsuit, which has held up the building of high-rise office and parking structures on part of the lot.

But Schreter, reiterating past comments, said the settlement of the Union 76 dispute has no bearing on the parking lot litigation that is now before Orange County Superior Court Judge Frank Domenichini.

“It has no effect whatsoever on the parking lot lawsuit. None of the peripheral issues have,” Schreter said. “There aren’t any negotiations taking place or planned.