More News on Sonics Lawsuit

OU Adonis · #**401** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthsideSooner

From the PI:

PBC attorney Brad Keller revealed damning evidence, exposing a meeting between former Sonics president Wally Walker, Microsoft mogul Steve Baller and former senator Slade Gorton in the winter of 2007 to “increase the pain of staying” for Bennett and force him to sell the team to a group led by Ballmer.

In a meeting Keller tabbed “THE PATH FORWARD,” he said Baller and Gorton met at Walker’s house and 1
1) “increase the pain of staying” (financial and reputation).
2) Decide if there is a buyer (for the team)

Keller said on Dec. 12, 2007, the group wanted to push litigation to force the Sonics to stay and forcing bleeding of about $20 million per year. He also said the city was on board with the “bleed them until they sell” philosophy.”

Keller then revealed a Wally Walker email to billionaire John Stanton on July 24, 2007

“I met with the city today and felt better about my message of fighting Clay’s attempt to leave. Make it too expensive and too litigious for him. I get the impression that they were in total agreement and that they (administration) understood the value of buying more time.”

That seems pretty damning to me. I don't know though I am just a peon.

OKCMallen · #**402** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 01:30 PM

That is HUGE! I know PBC's attorneys have mentioned that and are to assert an unclean hands argument, but that's terrific to actually see what the evidence is!

JWil · #**403** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OU Adonis

That seems pretty damning to me. I don't know though I am just a peon.

In other words...

SouthsideSooner · #**404** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 01:56 PM

11:45 a.m. - Nickels testifies that he supported a potential sale to the Ballmer/Griffin ownership group, but did not work toward it. Now a video is being shown in earlier testimony in which he indicates he was working toward that.

11:37 a.m. - Defense exhibit 527 presented, which is a letter signed by Mayor Nickels and the Seattle City Council to Gov. Christine Gregoire on April 17, 2006. The letter shows that the mayor and council telling the governor that a new facility should not be built outside Seattle. Nickels agreed that even as PBC was lobbying for a new arena, the mayor and council did not change that stance.

SouthsideSooner · #**405** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 02:06 PM

The Sonics lawyers really seem to be blowing some big holes in the cities case today....

11:58 a.m. - Nickels admits under questioning that the last two Sonics games he went to were a playoff game and when Gus Williams' jersey was retired about seven or eight years ago. Keller then goes into a string of questions about the Mayor's efforts to attact business to Seattle and whether any potential businesses said an NBA team was an important reason for coming, to which the mayor basically said no. When asked if Seattle would still be a first class city without the Sonics, the mayor said yes.

11:55 a.m. - Keller presenting evidence showing former Sonics President Wally Walker meeting in July 2007 with a member of Nickels' administration. Keller says it's in regards to a potential plan in making things financially difficult for the PBC through litigation. Nickels admits that when the City hired law firm K&L Gates, it was setting aside $1 million for the case. But, Nickels said there was no agreement with Walker to make the PBC financially bleed through litigation. Nickels says he was just trying to uphold the lease.

OKCMallen · #**406** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 02:11 PM

Sure seems like it. Nickels says he wasn't in on the "bleed'em" plan, but how could he NOT be aware of it?

Midtowner · #**407** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OKCMallen

That is HUGE! I know PBC's attorneys have mentioned that and are to assert an unclean hands argument, but that's terrific to actually see what the evidence is!

The PBC attorneys have been a lot more professional about this case re: not trying the thing in the newspapers. Smart move to hold things back 'til trial.

DelCamino · #**408** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 03:18 PM

Exactly. It was tough reading all the articles and hubbub about the PBC emails, and have them not defend themselves publicly. You had to know the day of defense would come. Mr. Keller, by these accounts, is having a good morning.

OKCDrummer77 · #**409** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 03:26 PM

So far, so good. GO SONICS!!! Don't let that be the only time I get to say that!

traxx · #**410** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthsideSooner

Nickels said there was no agreement with Walker to make the PBC financially bleed through litigation.

I'm sure there was no legal, written agreement but I'm also pretty sure there was a handshake and a wink agreement to do such.

zcamaro70 · #**411** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 05:24 PM

I thought I read somewhere today that should the Sonics win and break their lease, Shultz would have to put money down to stop their move. What I read was that Shultz would have to put a money bond on any potential losses that the Sonics might amass if they are forced to stay by an injunction. Does anyone know if this is true? How likely would Shultz be to put say $50 million down to show his 'commitment'?

OKCMallen · #**412** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zcamaro70

I thought I read somewhere today that should the Sonics win and break their lease, Shultz would have to put money down to stop their move. What I read was that Shultz would have to put a money bond on any potential losses that the Sonics might amass if they are forced to stay by an injunction. Does anyone know if this is true? How likely would Shultz be to put say $50 million down to show his 'commitment'?

Generally, and this is in Oklahoma, yes, you have to place a monetary bond with the court that supposedly will cover losses, etc., if the moving party loses.

OKCMallen · #**413** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 05:53 PM

(moving as in made the motion in court, not as in moving from Seattle to OKC.

)

OKCMallen · #**414** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 06:11 PM

3:51 p.m. - Singh says when KeyArena was upgraded and reopened in 1995, it got lots of praise from the Sonics and others. The City wants to present the video of NBA Commissioner David Stern in a 1995 interview praising KeyArena. The defense objects as heresay. Judge Pechman asks why she needs to see it since Stern is not here to respond -- it's basically a relevancy question. The interview was done by Mitch Levy of KJR Sports Radio, who was not allowed to be a witness in the trial. The objection is sustained and the video is not played.

It sounds like our lawyers are doing well in court today.

mmonroe · #**415** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 07:14 PM

I knew they had to have some sort of Ace up there sleeve. They're silence in the media was just too... thought provoking.

casualobserver · #**416** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 07:33 PM

Folks, there will be alot of ups and downs in this case. As far as PBC's accusations about fan indifference in Seattle, it has been reported that anywhere between 3-5K Sonics fans showed up for the rally oustside the courthouse this afternoon. This dispite the traffic nightmare and gridlock that is downtown Seattle. I'll be interested to see if The Oklahoman finds space to communicate this to all of you tomorrow.

PBC Owners to testify tomorrow. Should be interesting.

Easy180 · #**417** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 08:07 PM

Saw pics of the crowd on the news and it didn't look impressive at all

Didn't they only hand out 15 of the 44 available passes to the trial for average joes?...That's pretty sad

zcamaro70 · #**418** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 08:11 PM

King 5 reported around 700.

Easy180 · #**419** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 08:26 PM

This is a funny line from the Seattle Times

*The group was hoping to attract a few hundred fans, however, one observer said the number could reach 1,000.*

Nice spin on that one...A city of 3 million and they expected a few hundred?

Doug Loudenback · #**420** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 08:27 PM

In case this has not already been mentioned, Seattle's King5TV is carrying an on-going-as-the-trial-develops thread or blog, whichever, which isn't half bad ... you may need to register to see it, I don't know (since I'm registered) ..

Link: Minute-by-minute: Day 1 at Seattle vs. Sonics trial | Special Report | KING5.com | News for Seattle, Washington

Ted Streuli's Hot Topic Journal Record blog was supposed to be doing something similar but today that didn't happen. Maybe tomorrow.

Link: The Journal Record’s Hot Topic — Blogging what’s on the top of your mind and tip of your tongue

I'm not aware that the Oklahoman has done or attempted to do anything similar, but maybe that will change (I hope).

Something of a recap is also available at the Seattle Times website.
Link: Local News | Nickels said he's attended two Sonics games in the last 10 years. | Seattle Times Newspaper

Karried · #**421** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 08:53 PM

I've been trying to combine the blogs here:

http://www.okctalk.com/hornets-sonic...tml#post148261

Doug Loudenback · #**422** (**permalink**) 06-16-2008, 09:31 PM

Good! Sorry I missed it.