Judge rejects lawsuit challenging Seattle arena deal
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SEATTLE (AP) - A Washington state judge rejected a lawsuit Friday aimed at undoing a deal to build a new professional basketball and hockey arena in Seattle - a key part of plans to bring the NBA back to town.
King County Superior Court Judge Douglass North held that the agreement between the city of Seattle, King County and an investment group led by hedge fund manager Chris Hansen does not violate state environmental law.
"This is a big win in our work to bring the Sonics home to Seattle," Mayor Mike McGinn said in a written statement.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union is concerned that adding a third stadium to the area south of downtown would choke freight traffic and cost jobs. The union's Local 19, representing workers at the Port of Seattle, sued, saying an environmental review should have preceded any agreement.
The judge disagreed. He said the agreement technically set out a framework for a future deal, but didn't commit the city or King County to building an arena south of downtown.
"There isn't a binding decision here," North said.
The "memorandum of understanding" signed last year sets out the parameters of a deal to build the $490 million arena. Lawyers for the union said that created irreversible momentum toward construction, and therefore the environmental study was required ahead of time, union lawyer David Mann said in asking the judge to invalidate the agreement.
"This case is not about whether the Sonics should or are returning to Seattle," Mann said. "What the case is about is whether the city council, the mayor, the county council and executive went too far."
The NBA's Supersonics played in Seattle from 1979 to 2008 before its new owners moved the team to Oklahoma City and renamed it the Thunder.
Hansen's group, which includes Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, has reached a deal to buy the Sacramento Kings from the Maloof family and move the team to Seattle, but it still needs approval from the NBA. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has been trying to put together a rival investment group to keep the team.
The judge expressed skepticism from the beginning about the union's arguments, noting - as lawyers for Hansen, Seattle and King County did - that the agreement does not actually commit the city and county to building an arena south of downtown, and that an environmental review will be done before any such commitment is made. State law requires environmental reviews "before an agency commits to a particular course of action."
Another lawyer for the union, Peter Goldman, described the promise of a future environmental review as a "sham," saying that by the time a review is completed, the Sonics could be back in Seattle, playing at KeyArena in anticipation of a new arena being built.
No city government is going to reject the building of the arena south of downtown at that point, he argued.
Mann said that traffic is already so bad in the area - especially when the Seattle Mariners play - that it's hard for longshoremen to get to work on time.
"If they're late and port operations are hung up, that's a blow to the port," he said.
The memorandum of understanding calls for Hansen's group to spend $40 million on improving traffic and freight mobility in the area.
The union's lawyers said they had not decided whether to appeal, but they do plan to participate in the environmental review in an effort to block the arena from being built south of downtown.
King County Superior Court Judge Douglass North held that the agreement between the city of Seattle, King County and an investment group led by hedge fund manager Chris Hansen does not violate state environmental law.
"This is a big win in our work to bring the Sonics home to Seattle," Mayor Mike McGinn said in a written statement.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union is concerned that adding a third stadium to the area south of downtown would choke freight traffic and cost jobs. The union's Local 19, representing workers at the Port of Seattle, sued, saying an environmental review should have preceded any agreement.
The judge disagreed. He said the agreement technically set out a framework for a future deal, but didn't commit the city or King County to building an arena south of downtown.
"There isn't a binding decision here," North said.
The "memorandum of understanding" signed last year sets out the parameters of a deal to build the $490 million arena. Lawyers for the union said that created irreversible momentum toward construction, and therefore the environmental study was required ahead of time, union lawyer David Mann said in asking the judge to invalidate the agreement.
"This case is not about whether the Sonics should or are returning to Seattle," Mann said. "What the case is about is whether the city council, the mayor, the county council and executive went too far."
The NBA's Supersonics played in Seattle from 1979 to 2008 before its new owners moved the team to Oklahoma City and renamed it the Thunder.
Hansen's group, which includes Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, has reached a deal to buy the Sacramento Kings from the Maloof family and move the team to Seattle, but it still needs approval from the NBA. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has been trying to put together a rival investment group to keep the team.
The judge expressed skepticism from the beginning about the union's arguments, noting - as lawyers for Hansen, Seattle and King County did - that the agreement does not actually commit the city and county to building an arena south of downtown, and that an environmental review will be done before any such commitment is made. State law requires environmental reviews "before an agency commits to a particular course of action."
Another lawyer for the union, Peter Goldman, described the promise of a future environmental review as a "sham," saying that by the time a review is completed, the Sonics could be back in Seattle, playing at KeyArena in anticipation of a new arena being built.
No city government is going to reject the building of the arena south of downtown at that point, he argued.
Mann said that traffic is already so bad in the area - especially when the Seattle Mariners play - that it's hard for longshoremen to get to work on time.
"If they're late and port operations are hung up, that's a blow to the port," he said.
The memorandum of understanding calls for Hansen's group to spend $40 million on improving traffic and freight mobility in the area.
The union's lawyers said they had not decided whether to appeal, but they do plan to participate in the environmental review in an effort to block the arena from being built south of downtown.
The longshoremen just want to throw sand in the gears in hopes they get their palms greased. I enjoy seeing them rebuked. We have all been waiting for evidence the new arena will kill jobs. Of course, the study that showed the opposite was dismissed as "flawed" by the union.
Coming soon! Proponents of Initiative 92 claim in court that there will be no way to know if the $300 million arena and the land it sits on will be worth anything when the city takes ownership at the end of this deal. Of course a meteorite could hit the city by then making the world class arena and the land in downtown Seattle worthless. People for more important things will show us that one of those "more important things" is spending taxpayer money defending frivolous lawsuits that will be laughed out of court 8 minutes after they begin just like this one.
Mann said it's hard for you poor little longshoreman to get to work on time. Well, let me wipe your runny nose, Pack your lunch and pat you on your bummy and kiss you good by so you can go sleep on your forklift for 10 hours. LEAVE A LITTLE EARLIER. You are no different than any other worker in this friggin mess around here we call traffic. We all put up with this every day. So get over it you pampered pussys.
Just more Liberals trying to stop a good thing.
"Mann said that traffic is already so bad in the area - especially when the Seattle Mariners play - that it's hard for longshoremen to get to work on time."
What ever happened to personal responsibility?  If I suspect that traffic is going to be bad at the time I have to be to work, then I leave earlier than usual. Tip: post the sports arenas schedules next to the time clock so that workers can't use the excuse that they didn't know the traffic would be congested at that time.
I do feel badly for Sac in some respects as these Seattle victories represent another step toward their losing a team.Â
I expect they will get another one if they lose the Kings and they can keep their history which is... the Kings never won a championship or went to the NBA finals during their almost 30 year stint in Sac. Did they even win their division more than once? That pales in comparison to the Sonics.
NOTHING stands in the way of the mayor spending taxpayer money on tributes to himself and the out of control sports lobby.
I have no interests as a taxpayer putting any taxpayer money, through bonds or any thing else, Â toward Sports. Â
You mean you take no joy in that, Joy?
@Joy Whitney Your gold star is in the mail.Â
I hope the union members that want to work and have an economic benefit to our community fire those responsible for this bogus lawsuit. Kicking a gift horse in the mouth does not harbor any sympathy. Labor Unions have been getting quite a bit of negative heat lately and this type of stunt is exactly why. I feel for the workers as they just want to work and pay their bills, so do those who will benefit from this new stadium; ironically it will be built with Labor Unions, can't figure that one out (I admire those who work for unions and how much they contribute, but this was not a good move)
@The Truth WHO will benefit from this new stadium? Not the taxpayer, not the commuter, only the sports lobbys gambling interests.
@contraryjim @The Truth I think businesses, fans, stadium workers, etc. will benefit some. Plus there will be some economic money coming to the area. I too wish I made the kind of money the "interests" make,  but it is something that many, many people in the area want.. Also, how about all those involved in the construction of the stadium ? Then there will likely be construction for new business in the area once there are all the stadiums working. This is a valid debate, but it is what I want even though I won't go to many games. I vote for things all the time that I have no interest in, but know that they are good for the community. There is also something to be said for being a "Major League City", which is a consideration of businesses that may be looking to relocate to a new city, or expand (a small part, but a part none the less).Â
I did not expect another decision except this,Sacramento and KJ now watch every error from the rainy city.
Not nice now insinuating SuperSonics leg :)
Here's a hanky for ya International Longshore and Warehouse Union. This is what your union dues are buying ya! NADDA !!!
Quick, bring the smelling salts. A judge turning away a suit by the NIMBY's. This is a revelation. Really it is about time the judicial system start tossing these frivolous lawsuits and allow things to move along. Seems every NIMBY is trying to stop something for this reason or that reason and do noting but raise the cost of getting it done. Look at the I-90 across Mercer Isl. Could there be some sensible people still out there????Â
Suck it Goldman!
Oh I'm sure the union is shocked by this! No dount this BS claim would be rejected. Now let's actually get it done!
Ha Ha!
The Simpsons.
"I'll Allow It!"Â
-The Great Mills Lane
@Cheetoh734Â Maybe with the new arena they can have Celebrity death matches!!!
The lawsuit was just premature is all. Once a site is picked the lawsuits will pick back up. As long as no tax payers dollars are used in the land or building I couldn't care less.
@BlindmanYou do know where bonds come from right? Here's a hint, they aren't dropped by storks.Â
@NW-Economist @Blindman They also are not from existing funds.Â
Good.Â
One down one to go!
As predicted the judge tossed out this frivolous law suit.
@Goodwin  Source?
@path_tech News report on the radio
@Goodwin @path_tech Excellent!!!!
Dismissed! Suck it, longshoremen!
This is just nothing but the idiotic Longshore Union looking for dirt 'cause they just don't want it there. If this judge has any brain cells, he/she will reject their BS claim.
The Longshore Union is still beating this dead horse? I thought this was over long ago.
I guess this just goes to show how excessively litigious our society has become; can't build anything these days without a bunch of judges and lawyers.
@Joey Valentine One thing you should know about Longshoremen. When they have been absent for a long period of time and you start to think they are gone forever, BAM! Here they come! Back from their 15 minute break.
Anyone who trusts the NBA should have their head examined. The NBA is sitting back getting rich off of cities taking each others' teams and all the while doing it on the back of the tax-payer's dime.Â
This is theft from WA tax payers pure and simple, if it wasn't then there would be no need for the public to front the money at all, as the state could do better investing in education or even the stock market than to invest in this pile of trash.Â
@NW-Economist Alright Mr/Mrs "Economist".  Where does the money from Bonds come from?  Well if you want to get technical, you should know since you are an economist that they are made up.  Just like every Federal Reserve note has been since 1913 when the dollar was no longer backed by gold.  Every single "dollar" you use is borrowed from the FED which is not a government agency, it is a privately owned company.  That money is borrowed at interest.  When the US needs more, the FED prints more and gives it to them with an interest rate.  No dollar you have ever had in your hands is real, nor legal.  So climb down off your economist high horse with your babble. Unless you are using gold as your only currency, you are just as guilty of spending with bonds as any other person, organization or city.Â
@NW-Economist  Please point me in the direction of this pot of gold you are talking about.  You act like there is a vault of money that will be opened up and all of it will go to the arena project.   Try looking up "Municipal Bonds" on Google to both educate yourself and maybe... just maybe, relieve us of reading your posts that have no factual truth to them.
@path_tech @NW-EconomistYeah because we know the bond market is doing great. How much do YOU have in municipal bonds right now? And why should the city float that bond when WA is required by law to put more money (probably via competing bond measures) into education?
Go retake basic highschool econ., this time focus on ROI and supply and demand.Â
@NW-Economist @Hachee_Bungwhy @path_tech To bring professional basketball back to the great city of Seattle. To create jobs. To give entertainment. In terms of percentage, it's small. Wish I could dig up the numbers at the moment but my work day is over and it's time to go home and watch some NBA.
Why shouldn't it?
@Hachee_Bungwhy @path_tech @NW-Economist"a very small fraction of the city/county bond capacity" Why should any of that "small fraction" (I disagree with what you term as 'small' btw) go to this?Â
@path_tech @NW-EconomistWhere does the money to float the bond come from? ALL of it?
@path_tech @NW-Economist There's no point in arguing with these people. They will never get it.......ever. An arena will get built ans somehow that translates into OMG our children with die! The bonds being given out for this project are a very small fraction of the city/county bond capacity that will be paid back by us, the fans, and the city will own the facility and land when it's all said and done. Oh the horror.
@NW-Economist Name calling?  Really?  OK, we've gone through this many times but I will answer you again.  The money to pay off the bond is coming from the fans that will attend basketball games, concerts, and maybe hockey, if we get a team.  You don't like sports?  Great!  You pay nothing.
@path_techTypical mindless libtard who thinks money grows on trees. Where do you think the money for bonds comes from?Â
We'll see if the arena goes through, it's not a done deal yet.
@NW-Economist   I demand that basketball come back to Seattle.  The arena will supply it!  Wow, just that simple.  At least you are talking BONDS now instead of tax dollars being taken out of your pockets.
You hate sports, I get it. Â You hate people that enjoy sports, I get that to. Â Unfortunately for you, you're in the minority. Â Scream all you want, an arena will be built and basketball will be back in Seattle.
@NW-EconomistTheft from taxpayers? You mean the needless amount of taxpayer dollars spent by King County to defend themselves? Oh, and there won't be a trial, but a settlement paid to the longshoremen by King County (i.e. our tax dollars).Â
Theft from taxpayers, you got that part right.
@snacktrain Well since it's coming from the ignorant KOMO Economist, that kind of idiotic post should be expected.