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DENVER - A federal jury Friday issued a split decision in a lawsuit claiming Broncos owner Pat Bowlen lied to the former owner about distributing ownership among the Bowlen family.
Edgar Kaiser also asserted Bowlen cheated him of a chance to buy back part ownership in the team.
The jury agreed with Kaiser's claim that Bowlen violated the terms of the contract by not giving him first chance at buying back shares.
But jurors rejected the assertion that Bowlen violated a contract stipulation requiring him to be the sole owner.
A new trial will be held to determine what Bowlen owes Kaiser. That could include monetary damages or a chance to buy a share of the team.
U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch didn't set a trial date.
"Obviously, we would have liked to have prevailed on all counts, but it is what it is," Kaiser said.
Bowlen was in court for the verdict but didn't speak afterward.
"The jury found that despite their claims, Pat Bowlen had told the truth. He honored his agreement. He paid every penny he owed to Mr. Kaiser," Daniel Reilly, Bowlen's lawyer, said.
Reilly argued during the 21/2-week trial that Kaiser knew all along Bowlen's family would be involved and that Kaiser was trying to buy back a share of the team at 1984 prices.
Kaiser's attorney, Stephen Long, showed the jury numerous documents he said indicated the Bowlen family was trying to hide Pat Bowlen's acting as an agent for companies owned by the family, rather than as a sole purchaser, as Bowlen promised.
Kaiser also said Bowlen gave former Broncos quarterback John Elway a chance to buy a stake in the team despite a provision in the sales agreement giving Kaiser first shot at any such offer.
FALCONS: Cornerback Juran Bolden was indicted in Atlanta on charges of driving a stolen car and marijuana possession. Bolden faces a felony charge of theft by receiving stolen property for driving the sport utility vehicle Oct. 11, Fulton County district attorney spokesman Erik Friedly said.
REDSKINS: With quarterback Mark Brunell coming over from the Jaguars to start, incumbent Patrick Ramsey and agent Jimmy Sexton plan to petition the team for a trade. The Dolphins, who plan to meet with Sexton today at the scouting combine, are considered a leading contender for Ramsey's services. Washington and Brunell agreed on a seven-year, $43-million contract, clearing the way for a trade next month.
STEELERS: Left tackle Marvel Smith restructured his contract to help Pittsburgh get under the salary cap. The deal transforms $1.715-million of Smith's $2.25-million salary into a signing bonus prorated over the last five years of his deal. Linebacker Clark Haggans was sentenced to 10 days in jail in Brighton, Colo., for driving while impaired. Haggans was arrested in the north Denver suburb of Federal Heights on June 21.
ARENA LEAGUE: Los Angeles Avengers defensive specialist Cornelius Coe is under indictment on federal cocaine distribution charges in Michigan. Coe was named in five counts of a seven-count indictment returned Wednesday by a grand jury, Phil Green, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan, said.
CFL: Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam hopes to resurrect his career in Canada. Salaam, who won the Heisman at Colorado in 1994 and was the Bears' first-round pick in 1995, signed with the Toronto Argonauts.