The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court in San Francisco, claims Vella sold counterfeit Raiders merchandise and misled customers into believing his company was affiliated with the team.
Commented NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy: "The NFL and Raiders exhausted all measures to end this amicably, but had no other option than to bring it to court."
McCarthy explained that Vella, owner of 'John Vella's Raider Locker Room' stores, was using the team's name and logo on store signs and business cards.
Vella, who played for the team from 1972 to 1979, lists four store locations on his company website and uses the team's name in his telephone number.
