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"The longshoreman are asking the court to set aside this agreement," union attorney Peter Goldman said. "That would prevent anyone on either side from using this agreement to move forward. We need to start all over again." (AP Photo/File)

King County judge expected to rule on lawsuit against SoDo arena

BY Chris Sullivan  on February 22, 2013 @ 4:59 am (Updated: 10:02 am - 2/22/13 )

It's a big day for the proposed arena in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood. A King County judge is expected to rule on one of the lawsuits attempting to stop the project.

The local longshoreman's union is asking King County Superior Court judge Douglass North to throw out the city and county's deal with investor Chris Hansen.

"The longshoreman are asking the court to set aside this agreement," union attorney Peter Goldman said. "That would prevent anyone on either side from using this agreement to move forward. We need to start all over again."

Goldman said the deal to invest nearly $500 million into a new arena in SoDo violates environmental law because a full review of the impacts of the arena were not done before the deal was signed.

"It's completely the cart before the horse," he said. "That's contrary to the law, and we hope the judge agrees with us."

Studies on traffic impacts and economic impacts all needed to be completed before this deal was agreed to by the city and the county, and other potential sites needed to be included, Goldman will argue in court Friday.

"We require facts before we make decisions," Goldman said. "There are no facts here. We don't know what the impacts are going to be on any sector of Seattle. We should have had those facts upfront."

The union worries that a third arena next to the Port of Seattle would bring too much congestion to the neighborhood, costing local jobs and hurting the profitability of the port.

A ruling against this project could significantly impact Hansen's deal to purchase the Sacramento Kings and move them to Seattle. He's been using this deal to pitch his plan to the NBA.

And let's not forget the deal to buy and move the Kings is still not guaranteed. We've been waiting for weeks now for Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson to unveil his big plan to keep the team in California. He told ESPN that despite Hansen's deal to buy and move the team, "I can assure you and the Seattle fans it is not a done deal."

Johnson said he will unveil the investors that he hopes will encourage the NBA to nix the Seattle deal within a few days. "They've been referred to as the 'whales,'" he said. "We will be unveiling who they are this week or next week."

Hansen and his group have offered the Kings' owners $340 million for a 65 percent stake in the team, with the understanding that it would be moved to Seattle.

The NBA is expected to rule on that in April.

Read more:
Resolution supports keeping Kings in Sacramento

Chris Sullivan, KIRO Radio Reporter
Chris loves the rush of covering breaking news and works hard to try to make sense of it all while telling stories about real people in extraordinary circumstances.
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Comments (34)


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  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    The only thing they are wanting
    February 22, 2013 5:14 am
    is getting the City of Seattle to concede to their pet projects. Since the city didn't, they are suing. Once they get their pet projects they will shut up. Its not about anything but.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • MainEvent wrote...
    I want to know what this unions agenda is?.......
    February 22, 2013 6:01 am
    This whole time they have been playing petty games trying to stop this form going through. This isn't for one second putting the cart before the horse! Why would we ask the City to spends tens of thousands of dollars to do an environmental study if there isn't reason to do so?!?! The whole deal was agreed upon with the caveat that its pending on the study!!! This union needs to shut up and focus on making the company profitable that pay these guys way to much.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Steinsbu wrote...
    MainEvent
    February 22, 2013 6:22 am
    I agere with everything you say except for the pay part. What is way too much? What do you get paid for whatever it is that you do? Is that toooo much as well????
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wmccoy72 wrote...
    Stadiums or the Port
    February 22, 2013 6:31 am
    Perhaps we should tear down the existing stadiums to help the port out??? Last I checked if the environmental review doesn't pass, the arena can't be built at this location. So no, the cart is not before the horse.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    What is really sad is that whole area
    February 22, 2013 7:04 am
    is designated as a sports arena area, and people are shocked that someone actually wants to build a sports arena there.

    Yet I hear no one complaining about the "low cost ARTISTS apartments" the city wants to build.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    And before anyone says Bull
    February 22, 2013 7:11 am
    Read and weep what your tax dollars are going for, sad I cant get lower cost housing as an Engineer. Only in Seattle they make artists a protected class

    http://www.seattle.gov/housing/levy/levy_artists.htm

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    If the law was given the end run
    February 22, 2013 8:08 am
    It was done by the Arena builders for a reason and that reason was it would not meet the standards set by that law.This is the classic example that asking for forgiveness is easier then asking for permission.Far to much pressure is being put on 1 local judge perhaps this decision should be made by a judge in another jurisdiction
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    M101
    February 22, 2013 8:14 am
    Great point....seems like the builders would have been better prepared for environmental impact studies and laws. Especially in this over zealous uber-green city.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    Hey longshoremen
    February 22, 2013 8:14 am
    Nobody gives a rip about what you think... Go back to doing what you do best and cry like a bunch of babies...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kato1967 wrote...
    Thanks Unions....
    February 22, 2013 8:39 am
    for screwing everyone over again. You people need to get over yourselves.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    What else would we expect -
    February 22, 2013 8:53 am
    From the union thugs?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Burn_Notice wrote...
    Seattle Longshoreman...
    February 22, 2013 9:23 am
    need borrow a page from their Longview Longshoreman brethren. Nothing better than profane tirades on TV to sway public opinion. Now that sounds like a great idea. Down with Sport! Up with environmental impact studies (EIS)!

    You know sure as $ the longshoremen would be the first to fight and backdoor obfuscate the requirement for a EIS if it was port expansion project on the line.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Tyrone DeVille wrote...
    Poor Little Sports Clowns!
    February 22, 2013 9:35 am
    defeat after defeat. The chances of getting your group of basket hangers to town are growing slimmer! We who work for a living, like the longshoremen, refuse to support another team for you pack of eff'n losers!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Wils20 wrote...
    What a LOSER
    February 22, 2013 9:49 am
    At least we have a life and enjoy doing activities. You give union workers a bad name. No wonder why nobody cares about union workers, you are idiots. Union workers don't care about anyone else except for themselves. And do UNION workers even know how to work? Most of the stories I have heard is that UNION workers don't do ANY WORK. So shut up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    Work???
    February 22, 2013 9:54 am
    Most of these cry babies just know how to get paid for nothing... Oh yea and how to make everyone else suffer...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rayvensdad wrote...
    Suggestion...
    February 22, 2013 10:08 am
    Don't ever speak again... you just make yourself look like a moron.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    SPEAK SPEAK SPEAK
    February 22, 2013 11:13 am
    Sheesh sorry for having an opinion about the Longshoremen who do nothing but complain... My experience with them in the media and from personal experience with their workers this is my opinion. Perhaps you should not ever have an opinion.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    HaHaHa- Longshoremen...Work?
    February 22, 2013 11:46 am
    There's an oxymoron for ya. Trrone DeVille - You're a chcikenshit pussy! Now go get drunk and beat someone up....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • flipper wrote...
    Who cares
    February 22, 2013 9:51 am
    Kings just traded their player of the future. Green/Gold is an ugly combination anyway. So long King County Sonics!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rayvensdad wrote...
    wow...
    February 22, 2013 10:09 am
    must be an import product.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }