The city of Anaheim has spent more than $1 million on its lawsuit against the Angels, raising the possibility that taxpayers could have nothing to show for the millions the team has contributed to the city treasury.
"That's a concern we've had from the beginning," Councilman Richard Chavez said. "We feel we're hedging our bets based on good legal advice."
When the city filed suit, council members said they would fund the legal battle with the city's share of Angel Stadium ticket sales and parking fees -- in essence, using the team's money to sue the team.
The legal costs totaled $1,126,567 through Aug. 31, city officials said Tuesday. With the Jan. 9 trial date still months away, those costs could double by the end of a trial, said Sheldon Eisenberg of the Santa Monica law firm Bryan Cave.
