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The owner of Columbus Crew SC and Major League Soccer have until April 19 to respond to a lawsuit aimed at keeping the club in Columbus.
According to a document filed Monday with the Franklin County Clerk of Courts, Precourt Sports Ventures and the league have until the deadline to plead or otherwise move in response to the initial complaint.
The filing comes four weeks after the city of Columbus and the state of Ohio filed their lawsuit, saying state law prevents sports team owners from relocating after receiving public financial assistance.
Precourt last October said he is exploring a potential move to Austin, Texas.
The Crew SC owner and MLS released a statement shortly after the lawsuit was filed last month:
“Precourt Sports Ventures and Major League Soccer are disappointed that the Ohio Attorney General and the City of Columbus have chosen to commence litigation rather than encouraging public officials in Columbus to engage in constructive discussions about the future of Columbus Crew SC,” the statement reads. “The complaint, regrettably, chooses to ignore both the facts and the law.”