The Cleveland Browns have fired back at Mayor Justin Bibb’s attempt to invoke the “Modell Law” against the team’s plans to leave the city. In a strongly worded letter, the Browns’ legal team made it clear that they are ready to take the matter to court.
Anthony White, who heads the Thompson Hine law firm representing the Browns, wrote to the City of Cleveland’s lawyer stating that the team is committed to “expeditiously” resolving the dispute over their intention to relocate through the federal lawsuit filed in October. The Browns are challenging the constitutionality of the Modell Law, which was enacted to prevent professional sports teams from leaving the city.
The team’s defiant stance comes after Mayor Bibb threatened to enforce the Modell Law, which would require the Browns to obtain approval from three-quarters of Cleveland City Council before being allowed to relocate. However, the Browns appear unwavering in their determination to fight the law in court, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal showdown.
This latest development underscores the ongoing tension between the Browns and the city’s leadership, as the team seeks to exercise its right to potentially move elsewhere, while the city attempts to use the Modell Law to keep them in Cleveland. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for the future of professional sports in the city.
