Sonics Fans Win Suit Against Clay Bennett

They’re not getting their hoops team back, but these Sonics fans’ wallets are now marginally happy: “While the Seattle SuperSonics are long gone, about 1,000 former season ticket holders may soon be getting a little cash back from Clay Bennett as the result of a class-action lawsuit settlement. Bennett and his Professional Basketball Club have agreed to a $1.6 million settlement proposal with three fans who filed suit on behalf of their fellow ticket holders more than two years ago after the Sonics left for Oklahoma City. Judge Richard Jones, who has been overseeing the suit in his U.S. District court, has not yet signed off on the proposal. The two sides proposed the settlement to avoid a pending trial, but there is no indication when Jones will rule at this point. The suit centers around the complaint of three fans — Robert Brotherson, Patrick Sheehy and Carolyn Bechtel — who charged that Bennett and his PBC guaranteed them the right to maintain their season tickets at the same price through 2009-10 when they renewed for the 2006-07 season through an ‘Emerald Club’ promotion shortly after Bennett purchased the franchise.”