Sonics, Seattle Present Schedule Requests In Court

Lawyers for the Sonics and the city of Seattle yesterday both presented schedule requests in federal court for the KeyArena lease lawsuit filed by the city, with the Sonics "pursuing an opening trial date of March 24 and the city of Seattle requesting a longer discovery process that would conclude with a trial" starting October 27,  according to Greg Johns of the SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER. Seattle-based U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman will "review the arguments and set a trial schedule based on her own recommendation." Johns notes Sonics Owner Clay Bennett’s lawyers are “hoping for a quick resolution that would enable the team to know its future before" the '08-09 season. The city, however, has "no such need for speed," as an October trial date would "eliminate any chance of the Sonics relocating" to Oklahoma City before next season. Seattle has also requested a May 16 deadline to "join additional parties to the suit, indicating it would have to consider also suing the NBA" should the league approve the team's relocation bid at it's BOG meeting in April while the team is still bound by the KeyArena lease ( SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 1/17 ).

Sonics And City Of Seattle Lawyers Present Schedule Requests For Upcoming Trial