Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission v. National Football League

This matter is before the court on motions by Melvin Durslag, a sports columnist for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, and Scot J. Paltrow, an investigative reporter, also with the Herald Examiner, for protective orders and to quash subpoenas duces tecum served on them by the National Football League (“NFL”). Having considered the affidavits, the memoranda of law, and the oral argument of counsel, the court concludes that the motion to quash the subpoenas should be granted.

The subpoenas, dated December 15, 1980, required Durslag and Paltrow to appear on December 22, 1980 at the office of the NFL’s attorneys, O’Melveny & Myers. 1 The subpoenas also required Durslag and Paltrow to bring with them “any and all notes, file memoranda, tape recordings or other materials reflecting” any conversations that Durslag or Paltrow might have had since January 1, 1977 with any of a number of listed persons regarding the proposed transfer of the Oakland Raiders from Oakland to Los Angeles; the move of the Los Angeles Rams from the Los Angeles Coliseum to Anaheim’s Big A Stadium; the Los Angeles Coliseums action against the NFL; Super Bowl tickets; the Los Angeles Rams; or the NFL. The list of…