Actually, they did not choose arbitration to avoid going to court. There will still be a trial by jury, but it is on hold until the arbitration hearings with Loria are held. Even if they lose the arbitration, the lawyers maintain they have more charges than just fraud which they will lay on during the actual trial. The arbitration does not deal with the claims against MLB either, just the Loria portion. The Expos primary lawyer, Jeffrey Kessler, was happy about the arbitration hearings before the trial because the judge said they would still be able to get an injunction if MLB tries to eliminate or relocate the team, which was their primary concern.

 

As far as the cash calls, that is a major part of their case. According to the former owners, Loria had promised them there would not be additional cash calls for several years, after which they would have brought in new business partners from both the United States and Quebec. Instead, Loria issued cash calls immediately (that were apparently only issued to dilute the shares, not because of the necessity for more funds). That whole dilution clause is also a topic for debate, as MLB and Loria forced it into the agreement.

 

Whatever happens, it likely won't affect the Marlins much if at all. But it could bring terrible publicity to Loria and especially MLB/Bud Selig, who is the real person at blame here.

 

CapeFish, in your last reply you wrote something that confused me a bit. I'm not sure if it was what you meant, but the plaintiffs are in no way trying to take over the Marlins. They want money and control of the Expos again, they have no interest in Florida.

Loria could not afford what they are looking for in damages, so they would take over the Florida Marlins Baseball Team and assests first.

 

I doubt they will win because the arbitration process will pretty much decide what will go on in court. Arbitration rulings are taken by courts as fact.

"...Some of the guys who had $1 million shares (Bronfman, Coutu, etc.) were going to increase their shares, but Loria went back on their agreement and demanded money immediately, including from some guys who were being phased out of the ownership group."

 

I think what you mean is "when Loria ALLEGEDLY went back on their agreement...and ALLEGEDLY demanded money..."

 

Even in froggyville (Ville de Froggy), where I spent seven years off and on, people are PRESUMED INNOCENT until proven guilty UNLESS you're looking for a scapegoat.

Stop with your stupid Froggyville comments. :thumbdown

 

I don't think Loria would be responsible for paying most of that money if he loses, it would most likely come from Major League Baseball as they orchestrated the whole thing.

 

You're right, I shouldn't be so quick to assume everything the minority owners are saying as truth, but I do believe they have a case.

Loria could not afford what they are looking for in damages, so they would take over the Florida Marlins Baseball Team and assests first.

that's not the rationale for it at all.

Loria could not afford what they are looking for in damages, so they would take over the Florida Marlins Baseball Team and assests first.

that's not the rationale for it at all.

that's right, it's about saving face and their fragile egos.

Stop with your stupid Froggyville comments. :thumbdown

 

Oops, Ville de Froggy.

Reports are they actually want the entire Marlins franchise moved to Montreal, with Miami getting the Expos. We're talking all the players, off-field staff, minor league affiliates and other holdings. Nevermind that the minority owners couldn't even afford to operate them for more than a month or two, that's why they brought in Loria in the first place.

 

Not going to happen.

However it could mean that the Marlins or MLB (Marlins included) may have to pay substantial amounts to the former owners. Which could force Loria to sel the team or bring in more partners.

Where did you see these "reports"?

Don't ask me, I didn't bookmark the articles.

 

The minority owners want to own a team and ideally that team would be the Expos and be located in Montreal. The problem is they don't have the cash to buy the team, and no majority partner is willing. So they must sue Loria for ownership of the Marlins, or force MLB to continue to operate the lame duck Expos in Montreal or sell them the Expos for a haypenny and a pocket full of lint.

Well some of the partners just want to be reimbursed for their investments, but others wish to see the team succeed. They may have been cheap in the past, but I assure you they definately have the money.

 

As a matter of fact, the Expos consortium was possibly the wealthiest ownership group in baseball. They didn't spend much, but they did have a stadium plan in place when Loria came on board.

Well some of the partners just want to be reimbursed for their investments, but others wish to see the team succeed. They may have been cheap in the past, but I assure you they definately have the money.

 

As a matter of fact, the Expos consortium was possibly the wealthiest ownership group in baseball. They didn't spend much, but they did have a stadium plan in place when Loria came on board.

 

So, should we assume you are a spokesperson for the minority investors?

 

Maybe if they are so rich they should kick in some pocket change and build the new Marlins stadium. :whistle

It's not even debatable that they are exctremely wealthy.

 

Coutu alone is valued at over $1 billion...

Yes, but they did not care enough to spend the money to keep the team in town like Ted Rogers did in Toronto.

 

Money is worthless without vision.

It's not even debatable that they are exctremely wealthy.

 

Coutu alone is valued at over $1 billion...

Why don't they stop pesting the best owner the Marlins have had and buy the Expos from MLB?

They already paid for the franchise once, they aren't going to do it again, especially since they never received a dime for selling it.

 

If they believe Loria gained ownership through deception, they will try and get the team back by going after him.

They already paid for the franchise once, they aren't going to do it again, especially since they never received a dime for selling it.

 

If they believe Loria gained ownership through deception, they will try and get the team back by going after him.

 

The only thing the minority owners paid for was the right to be minority owners. They had this fantasy plan for a stadium which was out of Alice in Wonderland, they ran the franchise in a way that ignored business conventions. It was a play thing for them and ultimately it blew up in their collective faces.

 

All extremely wealthy individuals they made bad choices (after all they could have honored the cash calls and ponied up their share) but they didn't. Like a bunch of kids in a school yard, they didn't like being called out at home and now they want a "do over".

 

There are no "do overs" in baseball and there are none in business.

 

This is a bunch of elitists who are so used to having their butts kissed they can't believe everyone won't bend over and kiss their little froggie feet. It's time for them to honor the deal they made.

 

I hope when this is done and Loria wins he turns around and sues them for defamation and anything he find.

 

They are seeking $600 million by the way, $200 million trebled under RICO. In lieu of that they want the Marlins franchise moved to Montreal because they know the Expos are going to be moved.

 

They want another plaything. A toy, and if they succeed they'll screw it up just like they did the Expos the first time around.

 

They have no one to blame but themselves.

Because Sports1311 can't take a joke and complained to Admin that I shouldn't call Montreal "Froggyville" or "Ville de Froggy" I will now only refer to Montreal as "La Ville de Grenouilles" (city of frogs) and the minority owners as "grenouilles de radin" (cheapskate frogs).

 

My apologies for playing fast and loose with the french language. From now on I will endeavor be more accurate in my use of the language to make my points.