Anaheim Files Lawsuit Over Sony Jumbotron

ANAHEIM — The city of Anaheim filed a lawsuit this week against Sony Corp. and three other parties involved in the construction and installation of the 17-ton Jumbotron scoreboard, which toppled during the Northridge earthquake.

The suit filed in Orange County Superior Court on Monday seeks unspecified damages, which includes lost advertising revenue and diminished stadium seating following the Jumbotron collapse on Jan. 17, 1994. City officials said it could take $11 million to cover their losses.

When the Sony Jumbotron scoreboard fell during the temblor, it knocked out about 4,000 seats in the stadium’s upper left-field deck. It cost $10 million to repair the stadium damage, say city officials.

The legal action was taken to make sure the city recovers the entire amount needed for stadium repairs, City Atty. Jack White said. So far, the city has received about $3 million in insurance money.

Sony officials were unavailable for comment.