2025 Houston Baseball Partners, LLC v. McLane Champions, LLC and R. Drayton McLane, Jr.

In the 80th District Court of Harris County, Texas, Judge Sonya L. Aston, presiding. In 2011, McLane Champions LLC sold the Houston Astros franchise, which included the baseball team and a 46.5% interest in the Houston Regional Sports Network (“HRSN”), to Jim Crane and Houston Baseball Partners (“HBP”) for $615 million. After the HRSN was forced into bankruptcy in 2013, HBP sued McLane Champions and Drayton McLane, Jr. for fraud, alleging that McLane Champions misrepresented the value of the Astros’ 46.5% interest in the HRSN. HBP sought $440 million in actual damages. In May 2024, the firm was retained to defend McLane Champions against these allegations and brought a counterclaim against HBP for breach of the Purchase and Sale Agreement. After 12 years, the case finally proceeded to trial. (See https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/houston-jim-crane-drayton-mclane-lawsuit-network-20769540.php). On the third day of trial—and after just 4 hours of testimony (See https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/jim-crane-drayton-mclane-lawsuit-csn-houston-20784062.php)—the parties agreed to resolve the dispute and entered into a confidential settlement. (See https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/jim-crane-drayton-mclane-astros-suit-comcast-20785938.php). Harris Huguenard of Jackson Walker acted as co-counsel for McLane Champions. Mr. McLane was represented in his individual capacity by David Beck, Geoff Gannaway, and Cassie Maneen of Beck Redden.