Houston Litigation partner C. Thomas Kruse was interviewed by BBC radio on October 13 regarding the involvement of a Texas court in a dispute over the ownership of the British football club Liverpool FC. In the latest turn of events, a state court in Dallas enjoined the sale of the team, which is currenly owned by two Americans. Kruse gave multiple interviews by phone, and several of them ran on such BBC radio programs as BBC4 “Today” in London, BBC5 Live’s “Wake up to Money” and BBC4’s Six O’Clock News.
“What this temporary restraining order does is stop it [the sale] until Oct. 25 or an earlier time if the directors of the bank ask for an earlier hearing,” Kruse said. He then went on to explain the implications of the court’s actions and possible next steps for the parties involved, including the Royal Bank of Scotland, the buyers and the club’s board.
Kruse also discussed issues related to jurisdiction, since the action took place in a Texas court but the entity involved is a British football team. “The prairies of Dallas seem a long way from Liverpool,” he agreed.
He explained that the current owners claim that a substantial amount of their team-related business took place in Texas, so a Texas court should have jurisdiction. “I think that’s a very thin argument that will be challenged on the evidence at this October 25th hearing,” he concluded. He also stated that he felt the Texas Court would abide by a ruling of the British High Court in London.
At Baker Hostetler, Kruse heads the firm’s Complex Commercial Litigation group. He has experience trying cases in court and in arbitrations in many areas, including international commercial disputes, securities litigation, energy litigation, construction contracts, commercial arbitrations, intellectual property, technology issues and complex mass tort litigation.