The Los Angeles Rams enjoyed a victory in the Eighth Circuit on July 19, as a district court ruling to remand the class action suit against them to Missouri state court was vacated. Previously, U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White had remanded the case from Missouri federal court back to Missouri state court on jurisdictional grounds, finding that all parties in the suit were residents of Missouri. However, the Eighth Circuit vacated the ruling after finding that evidence presented by the Rams in federal court concerning owner Stan Kroenke’s residency was not properly considered.
The action was brought against the Rams and Kroenke by fans of the team in St. Louis, who alleged they were purposely misled into purchasing tickets, merchandise, and concessions. Fans accused Kroenke and top executive Kevin Demoff of lying to them about the team’s intentions to move to Los Angeles in order to induce purchases for which the suit seeks reimbursement.
Kroenke has said that their exploration of a potential move to Los Angeles was no secret, and that fans knew the move would depend on its financial viability and on the ability to build a new stadium in St. Louis. The suit was consolidated with two other class action suits against the Rams on July 8, and they will be heard together in Missouri federal court.