Anaheim Spent $307,694 in Suit Against the Angels

Anaheim officials on Wednesday disclosed for the first time part of the city’s bill in its ongoing battle with the California Angels: $307,694 for one of at least 10 lawsuits.

The disclosure came less than two weeks before the trial begins in the original suit filed by the Angels against Anaheim, which spurred a series of suits and countersuits.

City officials consistently have refused to disclose the cost of the litigation to this point. “The attorneys have advised us that information is privileged information,” City Manager William Talley said.

Angels Vice President Mike Schreter said he was “shocked” to learn that Anaheim had spent $307,694 on one suit that dealt with whether the city or the Angels had to pay for a variety of security and crowd-control services. He said the Angels spent about $150,000 on that suit, which is the only one that has been settled.

Since the Angels filed the first suit on Aug. 8, 1983, owner Gene Autry has spent more than $1.5 million in legal costs, Schreter said. Angels officials speculate that Anaheim has spent at least twice that amount. Schreter said at least two attorneys usually represent the city for every one attorney representing the Angels at court meetings and other negotiations.

An attorney with the law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, which represents the Angels, said his staff has one lawyer working full time on the Anaheim suits, two others dedicating most of their time and several others who help sporadically.

Mike McCormick, an attorney with the firm of Rutan and Tucker, representing the city, said Wednesday that the number of lawyers from his staff working on the suits, along with the city’s legal staff, is “probably confidential. . . . We’re getting ready to go to trial and I don’t think we want to comment.”

The suit that comes to trial Nov. 4 involves who has control over Anaheim Stadium’s parking lots. The Angels sued to block a $200-million project involving four high-rise offices and four parking garages on 20 acres of the parking lot. The development, part of the agreement reached to lure the Los Angeles Rams to Anaheim Stadium, is a joint venture of the development firm Cabot, Cabot and Forbes and the Ramco Fund, heirs of former Rams owner Carroll Rosenbloom.

Fred Hunter, a former City Council candidate, sued the city and Talley last year to compel Anaheim to disclose how much money had been spent on the lawsuits. Hunter, who did not win the council election, lost his suit when Orange County Superior Court Judge Philip Schwab denied his petition Nov. 27.

Hunter, a lawyer, said Wednesday: “It’s important for the citizens of Anaheim to know how much money we’re spending.” He estimated that the city has spent more than $3 million, “and it’s rising fast. As you get closer to trial, the costs rise.”

“I’m a citizen of Anaheim. If we’re spending millions of dollars, I have the right to know,” he said.

The court costs released Wednesday were incurred after the Angels filed a suit Aug. 23, 1984, contesting the city’s demand to be paid for security and crowd-control services, such as a police officer in each dugout. Settlement of that suit was announced July 10, five days after a fight involving Boston Red Sox outfielder Rick Miller and several fans. Schreter said then that the scuffle was partially responsible for the two parties reaching the settlement, in which the Angels would pay $61,989 for the services rendered last year and the city would pick up the tab for this year. Who will pay for the services after this year has yet to be negotiated.

Times staff writer Maria L. La Ganga contributed to this story.