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League Wants Bolts Sale Lawsuit Resolved

By ERIK ERLENDSSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 9, 2007

TAMPA - The NHL would apparently like the lawsuit between prospective buyers of the Lightning to be resolved before it gets too deep into the legal system.

And Commissioner Gary Bettman is willing to offer up his services and act as a mediator, according to a league official and an attorney involved in the lawsuit.

A potential meeting could come as early as next week.

A deal to sell the Lightning and 5.5 acres of adjacent land for about $200 million to Absolute Hockey fell through on Nov. 26 when a lawsuit was filed in Hillsborough County by Jeff Sherrin and Absolute Hockey suing Hollywood producer and co-buyer Oren Koules for violating certain terms of the contract. The deal was officially terminated by Lightning owner Palace Sports and Entertainment on Nov. 14.

Before the lawsuit was filed, there remained some hope that the sides could work things out, either by Koules rejoining the group or by buying out Absolute Hockey, a group that also includes former Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Doug MacLean.

The sides are keeping things quiet for the time being about what is going on behind the scenes, other than to confirm that Bettman has made himself available in an attempt to iron out the differences .

"It's best to be silent for now in what has been a volatile situation up until now," said Tom Scarritt, the lead attorney for Absolute Hockey.

Bill Daly, the NHL Deputy Commissioner, refuted in an e-mail a report that one of the sides backed out. When asked if that meant the sides have agreed to meet or if Bettman's proposition was just a standing offer, Daly's reply was: "That's the one I'm not at liberty to answer."

It has been nearly two weeks since the lawsuit was filed. Absolute Hockey alleges in the lawsuit that Koules, the producer behind the "Saw" horror movie franchise, went behind the group's back and tried to broker his own deal to purchase the team on his own.

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