CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have responded to Mayor Justin Bibb’s letter invoking the “Modell Law” with a clear message: We’re ready to hash this out in court.

To Case Western Reserve University law professor Eric Chaffee, there’s one big takeaway from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s decision to enter the battle between the Cleveland Browns and the City of Cleveland. “It means the state is willing to take a side here — and it does want the Browns to remain in Cleveland,” Chaffee said.

Cleveland made good on its promise and is suing the Browns over the NFL franchises plan to move the team to Brook Park. The lawsuit in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court alleges the Browns are ignoring the state’s Modell Law,