Martin Oberman, the attorney for five former NHL
players who sued Alan Eagleson, the league and two former
execs, said his clients "have tentatively decided to appeal
a ruling issued against them in a U.S. District Court,"
according to Jeff Blair of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. U.S.
District Judge Thomas O'Neill ruled on August 27 in favor of
a motion moved by NHL lawyers to "dismiss one of two counts
in a class-action suit" filed against 22 NHL clubs,
Eagleson, former NHL President John Ziegler and board Chair
William Wirtz. The suit alleges that "the league conspired"
with Eagleson, who was NHLPA Exec Dir at the time, "to keep
salaries down." The suit "sought triple damages, which
would have sent financial shockwaves through the NHL." The
league argued that the suit violated the U.S.' "four-year
statue of limitations." But O'Neill denied a motion brought
by Eagleson and others to dismiss "the second count, which
alleges that several businesses owned or controlled by
Eagleson ... embezzled from NHLPA pension funds." Oberman
and the players will decide "in the next few days" whether
to appeal before the September 30 deadline. Oberman: "We
think the judge is wrong and that there's a pretty good
chance that if we do appeal, it will be overturned. So,
it's pretty likely we will appeal" (GLOBE & MAIL, 9/12).
