Originally published June 12, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified June 12, 2008 at 8:25 AM
Sonics lawsuit has cost Seattle more than $1 million so far
Even before the high-profile Sonics trial starts Monday, the city of Seattle already has racked up more than $1 million in legal bills in...
Seattle Times staff reporter
Even before the high-profile Sonics trial starts Monday, the city of Seattle already has racked up more than $1 million in legal bills in its federal lawsuit against the team.
Those fees have been charged by K&L Gates, the private law firm handling most of the work in the city's lawsuit to enforce the Sonics' KeyArena lease. As of May 19 — the last time the firm billed Seattle City Attorney Tom Carr's office — the fees had surpassed $1.1 million, city records show.
That money has paid for some of the top attorneys at K&L Gates, including former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, who bills $685 an hour — even with the 10 percent discount the firm granted the city.
Gorton is not expected to appear in court next week, but K&L Gates partner Paul Lawrence ($420 an hour) will be the city's lead trial attorney, delivering opening arguments Monday morning.
K&L Gates partners Jeffrey Johnson and Gerry Johnson also have worked on the lease case, along with several associate attorneys and paralegals.
The legal bills already have topped the $1 million estimate made by Seattle Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis last September, when he announced the city was "lawyering up" by bringing Gorton and his firm on board.
The city's lawsuit seeks to force the Sonics to play out the final two seasons of the lease through September 2010. Sonics owner Clay Bennett wants to pay a cash settlement in exchange for terminating the lease now so he can move the team to Oklahoma City.
Alex Fryer, a spokesman for Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, said the city is paying the legal fees out of its judgment/claims fund, which sets aside money for lawsuits. The city's 2008 budget allots a total of $19 million for that fund.
Carr said he was aware of the mounting expense and said the city was trying to get K&L Gates to watch its costs — which don't include time spent by the City Attorney's Office on the case. (An assistant city attorney, Greg Narver, is expected to handle portions of the trial next week.)
Carr said the stakes in the Sonics lawsuit are high. The case could determine how much Bennett has to pay the city if the Sonics were to leave town. The city rejected a $26.5 million settlement offer in February.
"We're dealing with a case involving a lot of money here. We wouldn't want to save $50,000 and risk the case," Carr said.
The city also has asked that the Sonics be forced to pay its legal fees if the city wins.
Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
UPDATE - 10:45 PM
NBA | Phil Jackson returning to L.A.
Artest to join Lakers, Ariza to Houston
Phil Jackson says he'll return to Lakers
Judge gives suit by Sonics fans class-action status
Jerry Brewer: One year later, pain of losing Sonics persists

Tribal Fireworks Rivalry
The Fourth of July marks a long-standing fireworks rivalry between two clans of a Native-American family in Suquamish.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
shopping

events for Sunday, Jul. 5th
- Emery's Garden Pink Flamingo Sale
- Kuhlman Summer Sale
- Seattle Premium Outlets July 4th Summ...
- Pink Ginger First Anniversary Sale
editors' picks
More shopping guides- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Former NFL MVP McNair killed
- Palin takes to Web for hints of political future
- Russell Branyan, Mariners fight off the Red Sox
- Fourth of July festivals and fireworks in Seattle, the suburbs and beyond
- The Blotter | Man pistol-whipped after argument at nightclub
- Desert-lobster dispute turns pair into sagebrush heroes
- Close-up | Prison guards intercept carrier pigeon with a cellphone
- Woman accuses Sounders FC player Nate Jaqua of sexual assault, seeks more than $10 million
- Rob Johnson's double in 11th powers Mariners past Red Sox, 7-6
- Palin resigning as Alaska governor
762 - Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox: 07/04 game thread
244 - Reports: NKorean missile arrives at launch site
100 - Palin's Declaration of Independence
75 - Hatred for the NBA runs deep, but don't take it out on the players
73 - Former NFL MVP McNair killed
70 - Mariners score unlikely win over Red Sox in battle of bullpens
58 - Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
47 - Man pistol-whipped after argument at nightclub
43 - Tukwila residents rally against light-rail noise
36
- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Merchant Marine veterans fight for recognition
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Close-up | Prison guards intercept carrier pigeon with a cellphone
- Pre-grill drill: marinate steaks
- Lake Washington's sockeye run may hit a record low
- Amtrak cleared for 2nd daily train to Vancouver, B.C.
- Concert Review | Green Day blasts off 4th weekend with KeyArena show
- Hard times for tourist towns means good deals for travelers
- Yakima teacher reprimanded for sending 5-year-old student home with bag of feces in backpack
