Klein’s Lawyers Want to Look at Davis’ Finances
SAN DIEGO — The well-guarded financial secrets of the Raiders and Managing General Partner Al Davis will be the next targets of former San Diego Chargers owner Eugene Klein and his lawyers, already the holders of a $5-million jury verdict against Davis.
Judge Gilbert Harelson of San Diego County Superior Court cleared the way Thursday for further proceedings in Klein’s malicious-prosecution lawsuit against Davis, putting the Raider chief at risk of being ordered to pay Klein an additional $11 million or more in punitive damages.
A jury Wednesday found unanimously that Davis, by naming Klein as an individual defendant in the Raiders’ $180-million anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL, was responsible for the heart attack Klein suffered while testifying in that landmark case.
Under rules established before the two-month trial began, the jury will be called back next week to hear testimony about the financial condition of Davis and the Raiders. With that information as background, Klein’s lawyers will ask the jurors to render additional damages against Davis designed to punish him for suing Klein.
Klein’s suit asked for $11 million in punitive damages, but attorney Joseph Cotchett said Thursday that he will ask Harelson to waive that limit so jurors can impose whatever penalty they deem appropriate.
“Any award of (punitive) damages must be designed to punish,†said Frank Pitre, another of Klein’s attorneys.
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