Lawsuit Challenges Ohio $600M Browns Stadium Funding Plan

Ohio's plan to allocate $600 million from the state's unclaimed property fund to help finance a new $2.4 billion Cleveland Browns stadium in Brook Park has sparked significant legal challenges. Plaintiffs argue in a class action lawsuit that using these funds constitutes an unconstitutional misappropriation of private property, violating both state and federal constitutional provisions regarding property rights and due process. The funding mechanism was approved as part of the state budget signed by Governor Mike DeWine, reallocating money from the unclaimed property fund, which consists of unclaimed assets held for up to ten years before reverting to state control. Despite objections from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who urged a veto, the plan remains legally contested, with opponents highlighting that unclaimed funds are private property and not state revenue. The Browns also face a separate lawsuit from the City of Cleveland over amendments to the Art Modell Law, which regulates team relocations. This complex legal and political dispute underscores the controversy surrounding public funding for professional sports facilities and the handling of unclaimed state funds.