Anaheim Deliberations Could Get Started Today

The testimony phase of the trial between the city of Anaheim and the Angels ended Tuesday, nearly a month after it began, with owner Arte Moreno giving a low-key high five and handshake to Angel President Dennis Kuhl after stepping down from the witness stand.

Angel attorneys wrapped up their case in three days, so the jury could begin deliberating today or Thursday morning. Jury instructions and closing arguments are scheduled for today.

Moreno had testified earlier in the trial that he did not violate the lease between the team and the city by changing the team’s name. On Tuesday, Moreno simply gave the jury a rundown of his family history, his marketing background, his reasons for buying the Angels and his successes in turning around the financial fortunes of a perennial money-loser.

One item Angel attorney Todd Theodora wanted to clarify was the specifics of Moreno’s meeting with Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle in late December 2004, days before the Angels announced the name change.

Pringle had testified that Moreno told him he was considering changing the team’s name and that when he learned of the new name, he said: “It was a punch in the stomach.” Moreno said Tuesday that Pringle shouldn’t have been surprised by the name change.

“I made a decision to change the name, and I thought I could offer him something to satisfy him,” he said of the meeting.

“He said it would be political disaster if he let me change the name,” Moreno added. “I felt he was pretty dug in.”

Before testimony began Tuesday, Orange County Superior Court Judge Peter Polos ruled that the testimony of a former business strategist for the Walt Disney Co. -- the team’s former owners who sold to Moreno -- was relevant and would be admitted. In testimony that directly contradicted two key Disney witnesses for the city, Larry Murphy said Disney envisioned the possibility of adding Los Angeles to the name.

Though Murphy said he didn’t recall whether he had informed the city about the possible inclusion of Los Angeles in the team name, Polos said that fact wasn’t significant enough to disallow the testimony.

Anaheim attorney Andy Guilford said he considered calling former Disney chief executive Michael Eisner to resolve the apparent conflicts about what Disney intended. But Guilford said Eisner’s testimony wasn’t needed and that he never subpoenaed him.

Once the case goes to the jury, nine votes will be needed for a decision. If the jury rules in favor of Anaheim, the city will ask Polos to grant a permanent injunction that would forbid the Angels from using the Los Angeles name. Polos last year refused two such requests.

If the jury finds the Angels broke the lease and awards damages, Polos could deem a financial penalty appropriate but refuse to issue the order to drop “Los Angeles.” He could also award the city damages for last season and return the name to Anaheim Angels, thus nullifying any future damages the jury had awarded.