This lawsuit should sound a little familiar to any Minnesotan who roots for the Twins:
Seattle city officials filed a lawsuit today to keep the SuperSonics from leaving town, the Associated Press Reports. The lawsuit filed was a counter move to a the basketball team's attempt to be released from their lease on KeyArena. According to the complaint, "The Sonics promised to 'play all home games ... exclusively"' at the arena at the Seattle Center through Sept. 30, 2010. (Click here for the full AP article.)
Remember a few years back when the Twins were threatening to leave town and the Metrodome filed suit to enforce the team's lease obligation? Arguing for the landlord, Minneapolis attorney Corey Ayling prevailed, preventing the Twins from uprooting. (Minnesota Lawyer selected Ayling an Attorney of the Year in 2002 in recognition of his efforts.) Ultimately, the Twins got the state to pony up for a new stadium, so the team is now here for the long haul.
Every time you see the Twins play, you can thank Ayling. On second thought, they way they have played this season, don't.
Showing posts with label twins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label twins. Show all posts
Monday, September 24, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
U.S. Attorney's Office pulls off a twofer in Duluth
It was like the local U.S. Attorney's Office hit the daily double in Duluth today.
First, U.S. Attorney Rachel Paulose announced in a Duluth press conference that 29 people from the area have been indicted for cocaine trafficking. Twenty five of those people have already been apprehended. (The move demonstrates that drug traffickers can't evade prosecution by setting up shop in greater Minnesota, Paulose told reporters.)
Secondly, U.S. District Judge Richard H. Kyle, sitting in Duluth, sentenced a man to 30 years in prison -- the maximum sentence -- for producing some extremely graphic child pornography. (Click here for Strib article.) The local U.S. Attorney's Office has, of course, made child porn prosecutions a top priority.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Attorney's twin victories yesterday did not translate into any victories for the Minnesota Twins. Playing in Toronto, the tanking team dropped yet another one to the Blue Jays. Perhaps they should have played in Duluth ...
First, U.S. Attorney Rachel Paulose announced in a Duluth press conference that 29 people from the area have been indicted for cocaine trafficking. Twenty five of those people have already been apprehended. (The move demonstrates that drug traffickers can't evade prosecution by setting up shop in greater Minnesota, Paulose told reporters.)
Secondly, U.S. District Judge Richard H. Kyle, sitting in Duluth, sentenced a man to 30 years in prison -- the maximum sentence -- for producing some extremely graphic child pornography. (Click here for Strib article.) The local U.S. Attorney's Office has, of course, made child porn prosecutions a top priority.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Attorney's twin victories yesterday did not translate into any victories for the Minnesota Twins. Playing in Toronto, the tanking team dropped yet another one to the Blue Jays. Perhaps they should have played in Duluth ...
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Ballpark land debate doesn't flatter either side
The ongoing hearing before a three-judge panel in Minneapolis over the disputed value of the proposed Twins stadium site is making the parties involved look either less than forthright in their dealings or less than well-prepared for the transaction.
On one side are Land Partners II, the partnership that until recently owned the property and still retains joint development rights and the the current owner, Texas developer Hines Interests. They look like they have been trying to milk Hennepin County by claiming the land -- appraised by attorneys for the county as having a tax value of less than $9 million -- is now worth more than $65 million.
Meanwhile, Hennepin County has already been made to seem like it's low-balling the landowners by trying to take the eight-acre parcel by eminent domain.
The county seems to have badly underestimated how difficult and expensive it would be to acquire the land. County attorney Mike Freeman has admitted as much previously, saying, "There's some things that could have been done differently -- options picked up, discussions occurred earlier." At the same time, Freeman has complained that the owners have steadily jacked up its asking price as negotations have worn on.
Hines last year agreed to pay Land Partners II $25 million for the land. As part of the deal, Hines also agreed to pay Land Partners II 22.5 percent of anything the county pays for the land above $25 million. Depending on how much the land ultimately fetches and the success of subsequent development efforts, Hines could collect millions as a reward for its foresight.
But as this game winds on into extra innings, the winners might be Land Partners II. They've got a significant amount of cash in hand no matter what the judges decide.
On one side are Land Partners II, the partnership that until recently owned the property and still retains joint development rights and the the current owner, Texas developer Hines Interests. They look like they have been trying to milk Hennepin County by claiming the land -- appraised by attorneys for the county as having a tax value of less than $9 million -- is now worth more than $65 million.
Meanwhile, Hennepin County has already been made to seem like it's low-balling the landowners by trying to take the eight-acre parcel by eminent domain.
The county seems to have badly underestimated how difficult and expensive it would be to acquire the land. County attorney Mike Freeman has admitted as much previously, saying, "There's some things that could have been done differently -- options picked up, discussions occurred earlier." At the same time, Freeman has complained that the owners have steadily jacked up its asking price as negotations have worn on.
Hines last year agreed to pay Land Partners II $25 million for the land. As part of the deal, Hines also agreed to pay Land Partners II 22.5 percent of anything the county pays for the land above $25 million. Depending on how much the land ultimately fetches and the success of subsequent development efforts, Hines could collect millions as a reward for its foresight.
But as this game winds on into extra innings, the winners might be Land Partners II. They've got a significant amount of cash in hand no matter what the judges decide.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
LS&D likely to see more green from stadium deal
As has been widely reported, getting the land for the new baseball stadium for the Minnesota Twins has been no easy feat. And one measure of that is, of course, the amount of legal fees generated.
Hennepin County's legal representation in the complicated undertaking is the Minneapolis law firm of Leonard Street and Deinard. The county authorized $450,000 for the legal fees, but that was apparently overly optimistic.
A recommendation passed out of committee yesterday to increase the amount the county can disburse to LS&D for its representation from $450,000 to "up to $950,000," according to Carol Allis of the county's Public Affairs Office. The higher amount was authorized to "reflect the cost of the cost of the condemnation process," she said.
The Hennepin County Commission will vote whether to authorize the added legal fees on June 5. It is expected that the recommendation will be adopted.
Hennepin County's legal representation in the complicated undertaking is the Minneapolis law firm of Leonard Street and Deinard. The county authorized $450,000 for the legal fees, but that was apparently overly optimistic.
A recommendation passed out of committee yesterday to increase the amount the county can disburse to LS&D for its representation from $450,000 to "up to $950,000," according to Carol Allis of the county's Public Affairs Office. The higher amount was authorized to "reflect the cost of the cost of the condemnation process," she said.
The Hennepin County Commission will vote whether to authorize the added legal fees on June 5. It is expected that the recommendation will be adopted.
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