NFL Tells San Diego to Stop Allegations

In the latest legal development concerning the Chargers’ legal battle with the city of San Diego, the NFL has warned city officials not to falsely accuse the league of encouraging the team to check out its relocation options.

“Your veiled threat to take legal action against the NFL is as unbecoming as it is unwarranted,” NFL attorney Gregg H. Levy wrote in a two-page letter obtained by The Times. “The NFL not only has a long-standing and positive relationship with the City of San Diego, but also a policy of supporting stable team-community relationships.”

The letter, dated Jan. 26, is addressed to Steven M. Strauss, a San Diego attorney, with City Atty. Casey Gwinn listed as an additional recipient.

Letters from the city have been sent in recent months to representatives of various West Coast stadiums, admonishing them about trying to work around the Chargers’ existing lease and threatening possible legal action against the recipients or “any third party which takes actions that damage the City.” Roger Goodell, executive vice president of the NFL and the league’s point man on stadium issues, also received copies of those letters.

But Strauss said the reason for including the league as a recipient was to keep NFL executives in the loop, not to threaten them with legal action. He said he apprised the league of that Monday.

NFL officials declined to comment on the letter from league attorneys to Strauss, as did Charger President Dean Spanos.

Also in the letter to Strauss, the NFL indicated it believed the Chargers have met the requirements to activate the renegotiation clause in their Qualcomm Stadium lease -- something many city officials dispute.

In November, the Chargers filed suit against San Diego in Los Angeles Superior Court, asking the court to decide whether the team has done enough to “trigger” the renegotiation clause. The case subsequently was transferred to Superior Court in San Diego.

Strauss said the league apparently has not taken into account a cross-complaint filed by the city last week. In it, the city sets forth its position on the deficiencies in the Chargers’ trigger position and points out that financial hardship is a requirement to trigger.