San Jose will appeal the ruling, but the invalidity of the agreement places in further jeopardy San Jose's separate appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to curtail Major League Baseball's antitrust exemption.
The City of San Jose has been handed a further obstacle in their efforts to curtail Major League Baseball's antitrust exemption by a ruling of the Santa Clara County Superior Court, reports San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross. In a lawsuit filed by "Stand for San Jose -- a citizens group that has close ties to the Giants" -- Judge Joseph Huber ruled invalid the agreement between the Oakland Athletics and San Jose that gives the A's the option to purchase land in downtown San Jose because such an agreement required voter approval.