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Schultz Sues to Keep Sonics in Seattle

Posted Apr 23, 08 12:59 PM CDT in Sports 

(Newser) – Howard Schultz filed a suit yesterday seeking to reverse the sale of the SuperSonics to Oklahoma-based investor Clay Bennett. The Starbucks CEO and former Sonics owner cites email evidence that Bennett's ultimate goal was always to bring a basketball team to his hometown. The lawsuit asks the court to void the sale and help transfer the team to "an honest buyer," reports the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

"These Oklahoma City businessmen wanted a team that would play in Oklahoma City—not in Seattle. They were willing to lie, and did lie, to complete the deal," says Schultz's complaint. Bennett's email to his investing group says that if arena negotiations didn't give them an excuse to leave the city, they could find another team to bring to Oklahoma.

Source Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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Seattle SuperSonics' Johan Petro, left, Jeff Green, center, and Earl Watson, right, walk off the court at the buzzer of what might have been the team's final NBA basketball game in Seattle.   (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Starbucks Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Howard Schultz took some time out from his coffee duties to file a suit attempting to keep the Sonics in Seattle.   (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels talks to reporters Friday, April 18, 2008, in Seattle about Friday's vote by NBA owners to approve the move of the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett speaks during a news conference Friday, April 18, 2008, in New York. NBA owners approved the SuperSonics' move to Oklahoma City for the 2008-09 season.   (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
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lawsuit  • fraud  • Seattle SuperSonics  • Seattle  • Oklahoma City  • Howard Schultz  • Clay Bennett


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