Divided SCOTX Sides with Jim Crane in Astros Sale Suit

Jim Crane will get the chance to take to trial his lawsuit accusing the former owner of the Houston Astros of duping him into paying too much when he bought the team in 2011, the Texas Supreme Court determined Friday in a 7-2 ruling.

Crane and Houston Baseball Partners, the entity created to buy the Astros, sued former owner Drayton McLane, his company McLane Champions and media giant Comcast in 2013 claiming the defendants’ lies and deceptions caused them to pay far too much when they bought the Major League Baseball team and a stake in Houston Regional Sports Network in 2011 for $615 million. Crane is seeking in damages the difference between what he paid for the network stake, $332 million, and its actual value, which he alleges is zero and argues HBP was misled about what affiliate rates the Houston Regional Sports Network would be able to charge distributors of its programming.