Court rules for Talley

ANAHEIM An appeals court has decided that former city manage r William O. Talley didn't attempt to defraud the Angels when the Rams moved to Anaheim Stadium. The 4th District Court of Appeal ruled Tuesday that the Angels are not entitled to recover about $5 million in legal fees the team has incurred during its five year fight with Ta"I was pleased to see the appeals court affirmed that the Angels actedimproperly," Talley said. Talley has countersued Golden West Baseball Co., which owns the Angels, alleging the organization went after him in order to force him out of his job to get a better deal with the city. That suit is moving forward, he said. Richard Brown, chief executive officer of the Angels, wouldn't comment on the decision. Talley, who is now city manager in Dana Point, was sued in 1985 and the suit was thrown out in 1988, but the Angels appealed. The city was responsible for Talley's legal fees, so the city also is now off the hook. "I'm pleased the appeals court upheld the superior court decision," Council- man Tom Daly said. "The Angels have a history of appealing court decisions they don't like ... I think the city's always dealt in good faith with the Angels and they've prolonged this needlessly." However, another suit against the city still is working its way through the courts. The Angels sued the city and Anaheim Stadium Associates, a development partnership, to halt construction of a high-rise office complex on the stadium parking lot.