 Landis ruled that the Browns could either keep Bennett on their roster for the entire 1931 season, trade him, or release him.Instead, Browns owner Phil Ball brought suit against Landis in his old court in Chicago.Federal Judge Walter Lindley ruled for Landis, noting that the agreements and rules were intended to "endow the Commissioner with all the attributes of a benevolent but absolute despot and all the disciplinary powers of the proverbial "pater familias"".