Final Day Of Sonics Trial Underway
SEATTLE (AP) — The final day of the city of Seattle’s six-day trial against the SuperSonics started Thursday morning with Sonics lawyer Brad Keller finishing his questioning of city councilman Nick Licata.
Federal Judge Marsha Pechman said she would let Licata finish his testimony Friday morning before she rules on the city’s request that deputy mayor Tim Ceis be allowed to testify. The city wants Ceis to show that Seattle officials did not know of a plan to inflict financial pain on Sonics owner Clay Bennett.
Evidence presented Friday showed a Seattle group that included former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, whom the city hired to lead its efforts to keep the Sonics in town, sought to have Bennett sell the team to local investors rather than move it to Oklahoma City.
