(KMOX) - The latest decision in the legal battle between St. Louis versus the Los Angeles Rams and owner Stan Kroenke has gone in St. Louis's favor. The U.S. Supreme Court has denied to hear a petition by the Rams, who wanted the lawsuit pertaining to the team leaving St. Louis to be settled in arbitration.
The decision was made by SCOTUS on Monday. It comes after the Missouri Supreme Court's decision last September that the case should be heard in a St. Louis courtroom.
The lawsuit by the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority was filed the year after the Rams officially left St. Louis. It alleges significant public financial loss was caused by a breach of contract, fraud, illegal enrichment and interference in business by the Rams and the NFL.
A tentative trial date has been set for Oct. 25, 2021, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Kroenke's lawyers say that the Missouri Supreme Court ruling will cause "irreparable harm" to the Rams by denying the team's right to have the case resolved in arbitration.
The Rams moved to Los Angeles in 2016, prompting a suit by St. Louis city and county and the operator of the domed downtown stadium where the Rams formerly played.
This suit could force Kroenke, Rams COO Kevin Demoff and/or NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to a witness stand inside a St. Louis courtroom. It could also mean millions of dollars to, for instance, pay off the dome's debt.
A separate suit was recently settled, giving $24 million in refunds to former St. Louis Rams personal seat license holders. St. Louis was also the winner in another lawsuit, that allows fans who bought tickets and merchandise since 2010 to be eligible for partial refunds.