Judge Redfield T. Baum offered up an intriguing, if alarming suggestion as to the course of events that may flow out of his court room on Friday. That of nothing actually getting settled, with neither the NHL or the Balsillie collectives capturing their prize and instead leaving the Coyotes franchise in some kind of limbo, one that would have to be funded by the NHL until some other solution was arrived upon.
The final act (or what was supposed to be at any rate) of this long running soap opera is (was?) scheduled to play out on the 7th floor in courtroom 703, on Friday, with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to take the stand with his explanation as to what he thinks is best and why the former owner of the Coyotes and the teams creditors should be accepting of a bid of less than 100 thousand dollars of Mr. Balsillies.
Lawyers for Ballsillie and the now recalcitrant Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes will be vigorously cross examining the Commissioner, seeking the dramatic statement that will sink his argument and leave the Judge with no other choice but to rule in favour of the Balsillie bid.
The anti trust lawyer, Jeffrey Kessler who has been retained by Mr. Balsillie will be handling the cross examination of Mr. Bettman from the Balsillie point of view, an event apparently not striking fear into Mr. Bettman, if his comments in the Globe and Mail are any indication.
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Bettman said. “He took my deposition and we’ve crossed paths before.”
The final act (or what was supposed to be at any rate) of this long running soap opera is (was?) scheduled to play out on the 7th floor in courtroom 703, on Friday, with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to take the stand with his explanation as to what he thinks is best and why the former owner of the Coyotes and the teams creditors should be accepting of a bid of less than 100 thousand dollars of Mr. Balsillies.
Lawyers for Ballsillie and the now recalcitrant Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes will be vigorously cross examining the Commissioner, seeking the dramatic statement that will sink his argument and leave the Judge with no other choice but to rule in favour of the Balsillie bid.
The anti trust lawyer, Jeffrey Kessler who has been retained by Mr. Balsillie will be handling the cross examination of Mr. Bettman from the Balsillie point of view, an event apparently not striking fear into Mr. Bettman, if his comments in the Globe and Mail are any indication.
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Bettman said. “He took my deposition and we’ve crossed paths before.”
Still court room drama can always provide that surprise development that changes the direction of the case forever, whether that comes to pass on Friday or not remains to be seen
But one thing is certain, whatever happens in the court Friday, the only real statement of dramatic importance will be in the deliberation arrived from Judge Baum as this proceeding comes to its end.
That in the end will either settle this matter or set it up for either more endless litigation or start the entire process over again, giving the NHL a very Groundhog Day like feeling we would think.
.
Globe and Mail-- Lawyers expected to grill Bettman
Globe and Mail-- Coyote bidders down to two
Globe and Mail-- Ice Edge keeps iron in fire
Globe and Mail-- Let the Coyotes auction begin
Globe and Mail-- Bettman meets his match
National Post-- Coyotes might not be sold in court
National Post-- Bettman vs. Ballsillie: A comparison
National Post-- Coyotes legal battle to continue after auction
National Post-- Coyotes fans await court's decision
Toronto Star-- Hamilton would be among top five in revenue, NHL admits
Toronto Star-- An Actual Hockey Person
Toronto Star-- How High Will He Go?
Toronto Sun-- The Plot Thickens
Hamilton Spectator-- Copps is reno-ready, mayor tells NHL
Hamilton Spectator-- Judge: Balsillie, NHL might both end up without Coyotes
Arizona Republic-- Judge could reject both Coyotes bids
Arizona Republic-- Glendale strongly backs NHL's Coyotes bid
CBC Sports-- No ruling from Coyotes auction, yet
CBC Sports-- Making sense of Coyotes auction
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