On Monday, a U.S. district court ruling left UCLA officials optimistic that the UCLA baseball team will be able to play the entirety of its 2014 season at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Judge S. James Otero rejected a motion by UCLA and the Brentwood School to strike down an August ruling that nullified the university’s lease of Jackie Robinson Stadium, which sits on land belonging to the Department of Veterans Affairs, but said the schools could appeal. Monday’s decision means UCLA will have more time before their lease on Jackie Robinson Stadium could possibly be terminated.
The university now plans to file an appeal, UCLA spokesman Steve Ritea said in a statement. The appeal process could extend legal proceedings beyond the 2014 baseball season, allowing UCLA’s baseball team to use the stadium in the meantime.
The university is “confident that our baseball team will be able to play its upcoming season in Jackie Robinson Stadium,” Ritea said in the statement.
In his August ruling, Otero said the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs misused land intended for veteran rehabilitation and care by leasing it to outside institutions like UCLA.
The initial lawsuit challenging UCLA’s use of Jackie Robinson Stadium was organized by a group of veterans represented by the ACLU of Southern California, which could not be reached for comment.
UCLA composed an application to overturn the initial ruling for two listed reasons: to gain the ability to file an appeal and to vacate Otero’s original order.
Now, without a stay in court, the university only has plans to file an appeal, UCLA spokesman Steve Ritea said in a statement.
This “seat at the table,” Ritea said, now puts the university in a legal position where it can “craft a resolution that helps veterans by building upon our longstanding relationship with the VA and our strong commitment to veterans that includes a wide variety of programs dedicated to serving those who serve,” the statement added.
Compiled by Andrew Erickson, Bruin Sports senior staff.