Lawsuit seeks to stop Browns stadium funding
Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann, through his law firm DannLaw, has filed a class action lawsuit in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, seeking an injunction to prevent the state from using the Unclaimed Funds Account to fund a proposed new stadium for the NFL team.
Last week, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed the state's two-year budget, which included $600 million for a new Browns stadium in the Cleveland suburbs, 18 miles south of Huntington Bank Stadium.
Intel reportedly considering major strategy change in manufacturers like Ohio plant
According to the Ohio Department of Commerce, the state has about $4.8 billion in its Unclaimed Funds Account, which is money from Ohioans' inactive bank accounts, uncashed checks, and other sources that they may not know they have. The budget designates $1.7 billion of that money for the Ohio Cultural and Sports Facility, with the first part of that – the $600 million – being assigned to the football stadium. Watch a report on the state's unclaimed funds account in the video player above.
According to a press release, the lawsuit was filed on behalf of three Ohio residents and a class that includes 'all individuals and entities whose funds are being held in the Ohio Unclaimed Funds Trust Fund as of June 30, 2025.'
The lawsuit alleges that the state is violating the U.S. and Ohio constitutions, including due process protections.
'The State of Ohio intends to steal over a billion dollars in private property from its citizens and pour it into the pockets of Jimmy Haslam, one of America's richest men,' Jeffrey A. Crossman, lead counsel and former Ohio legislator, said in the press release. 'Everyday Ohioans are rightfully outraged by this blatant abuse of power. The government can't just take someone's property and give it to someone else.'
Ohio civil rights group rules that ex-employee can sue LifeWise for discrimination
The lawsuit accuses the Browns' owners, the Haslam Sports Group, of seeking public funding 'for their thoroughly private venture' to cover half of the new stadium's construction cost.
In addition to an injunction, the lawsuit also states the plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial should there be any monetary or legal claims.
The Division of Unclaimed Funds recommends using this three-step process:
• Search for unclaimed funds and generate a claim form by accessing the new system at com.ohio.gov/UnclaimedFunds.• Review and gather the required documentation.• Submit the claim form and any documents by mail or upload them directly through the system.
Since being reinstated by the NFL in 1999, the Browns have won 141 games.
Read the full lawsuit in the document below.
Browns-stadium-funding-class-action-lawsuitDownload
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
What's More Likely: Rich Eisen Talks Ravens, Colts, Eagles and More
Rich Eisen the Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and the big-name NFL contract squabbles.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman arrested on weapons charges, held without bail
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman is being held without bail after he was arrested on weapons charges on Friday night, authorities confirmed. In a statement, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said deputies in South L.A. conducted a traffic stop on Perryman at about 9:30 p.m. for vehicle code violations. During that stop, deputies found five firearms inside the vehicle. Of those firearms, two were assault-style rifles. He was arrested on suspicion of weapons violation charges. Perryman was cooperative with deputies, the department said. He's currently being held without bail at the South Los Angeles Sheriff's Station. He's scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. In a joint statement, the Chargers and Perryman's agent said they are aware of a matter involving him and are gathering information. The extent of his potential charges are not yet clear. Perryman, 32, was drafted by the then-San Diego Chargers in 2015. He spent the first six seasons of his career with the franchise before brief stints with the Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans. The former Pro Bowl linebacker returned to L.A. before the start of the 2024 season, when he started 11 games for the Chargers and served as a captain on the defense.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Chiefs' Rashee Rice says he has 'completely changed' after causing dangerous crash on Dallas highway
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has 'completely changed' after causing a chain-reaction crash last year on a Dallas highway that left multiple people injured, cost him more than $1 million in a settlement to victims, and resulted in a 30-day jail sentence that he will have to fulfill at some point in the future. Rice spoke Saturday for the first time in training camp, and the first time since the 25-year-old playmaker tore a ligament in his right knee in Week 4 — an injury that wound up requiring season-ending surgery. 'I've completely changed. You have to learn from things like that,' Rice said of the March 2024 accident, when prosecutors said he was driving nearly 120 mph on the North Central Expressway and made 'multiple aggressive maneuvers' before striking the other vehicles. 'I've learned," Rice continued, "and taken advantage of being able to learn from something like that.' Rice pleaded guilty in July to two third-degree felony charges of collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors said, Rice was sentenced to five years of deferred probation and 30 days in jail, along with paying victims' out-of-pocket medical expenses totaling about $115,000. He separately agreed to settle a civil case for $1,086,000, which included prejudgment interest and attorneys' fees. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are bracing for Rice to serve an NFL suspension, though the length and time remains uncertain. League spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement recently that the case "remains under review.' 'My legal team is handling all that,' Rice said. 'All I can focus on is what I can control right now and that's me doing what I do.' So far, the knee injury that robbed him of most of last season hasn't held him back. After a standout rookie season, Rice caught 24 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns through his first three games last season. But in Week 4, after Patrick Mahomes had thrown an interception, the quarterback accidentally dived into Rice's leg as they were trying to make the tackle, tearing the lateral collateral ligament in the wide receiver's knee. Rice had surgery and was back for summer workouts, and he's been full-go throughout training camp. 'I feel 100%. I'm excited to be back out here with the guys,' Rice said. 'Just kind of basically where I left off at. The only thing is get back on the field and continue to have fun doing what I do.' The Chiefs had hoped that Rice would be a focal point of the offense last season in a wide receiver corps that included Marquise Brown and then-rookie Xavier Worthy. But that triumvirate never materialized, because 'Hollywood' Brown was hurt on the first play of the preseason — he didn't return until the playoffs — and Rice ultimately joined him on injured reserve. Now, the Chiefs have all three of them healthy, Worthy has a year of experience under him, and fourth-round draft pick Jalen Royals has turned some heads in training camp. Throw in veteran Juju Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton, who appears to be taking advantage of a fresh start in Kansas City, and the Chiefs are confident in their depth at the position. Especially if Rice must serve a suspension during the upcoming season. 'I'm locked in. This is what I do,' Rice said. 'This is my job. This is what I love to do. So even when I'm not able to be with the team, I'm going to be working hard to get back with them as soon as possible.' ___ AP NFL:
