City of Cleveland obtains historic $100 million settlement with Cleveland Browns

Client(s) City of Cleveland

Jones Day successfully represented the City of Cleveland in federal and state litigation arising from the Cleveland Browns' proposed relocation of the team's stadium to a suburban location, ultimately resolving the matter with a $100 million settlement with the Browns to fund the City's redevelopment of the existing stadium site and improvements to the Cleveland lakefront. The litigation began with a federal declaratory judgment action filed by the Browns against the City challenging Ohio's 'Modell Law,' which is designed to prevent stadium relocations, and Jones Day defended the City through a series of motions to dismiss. Additionally, the Firm successfully advanced a breach of contract action in state court over the Browns' alleged failure to comply with various provisions in the stadium lease.

Cleveland Browns Football Co. LLC v. The City of Cleveland, No. 1:24-cv-01857 (N.D. Ohio); The City of Cleveland v. Haslam Sports Group et al., No. cv-25-110189 (Ct. C.P. Cuyahoga Cty., Ohio)