Documents from potential Sonics buyers to remain sealed

Clay Bennett, left, owner of the Sonics, answers a question at a news conference in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, March 25, 2008.

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Story Published: May 8, 2008 at 8:35 PM PDT

Story Updated: May 8, 2008 at 8:35 PM PDT

By Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) - A federal judge ruled documents subpoenaed from a group that attempted to buy the Seattle SuperSonics from their Oklahoma-based owners can remain sealed.

U.S. District Judge Martha Pechman ruled Thursday that documents from Seattle developer Matt Griffin's group that were labeled for "attorney's eyes only" can remain confidential.

In seeking to have the documents unsealed, attorneys for SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett accused the potential owners and the city of Seattle of duplicity in an effort to force him to sell the team.

Pechman ruled that the Sonics didn't make a good-faith effort to resolve the document dispute and failed to abide by an agreed-upon rule requiring 10 days to pass before challenging the confidentiality of documents.

The Sonics' filing came two days before the NBA approved Bennett's bid to relocate the team to Oklahoma City.

A trial is due to start next month in the city of Seattle's attempt to enforce the final two years of the club's lease at KeyArena.

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