Schultz says Stern warned him about suit

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jul 27, 2008

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Former SuperSonics owner Howard Schultz said he was warned by NBA commissioner David Stern that it would be "very expensive" to pursue a lawsuit seeking to return the team to Seattle from Oklahoma City.

Schultz made the claim in a declaration filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Schultz has sued to try to reverse his sale of the franchise to Clay Bennett, claiming the Oklahoma City businessman failed to follow through on a promise to negotiate in good faith to keep the team in Seattle.

On July 2, Bennett's ownership group and city of Seattle officials announced a settlement in another lawsuit, allowing the team to move immediately to Oklahoma City, where it will play during the upcoming season. That settlement did not cover Schultz's lawsuit.

Six days later, the NBA filed a motion asking U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman -- who is presiding over the Schultz case -- to allow the league to intervene. The NBA claimed the lawsuit would interfere with the stable operation of the franchise.