The Region - News from Sept. 13, 1985

As the Raiders begin their fourth season in Los Angeles, lawyers for Oakland once again asked a state appeals court to return the football franchise. Oakland has been trying for several years to take over the National Football League franchise by invoking eminent domain, but a Superior Court judge has twice rebuked the Northern California city. Raiders lawyer Moses Lasky told the three-judge panel in San Francisco that Oakland cannot take over the team because it would violate the NFL’s own constitution, and would interfere with interstate commerce, a violation of the U.S. Constitution. David Self, representing Oakland, disputed that claim, saying cities have been allowed to take over laundries, railroad stock and many other businesses engaged in interstate commerce.