During Saturday's proceedings in the sexual assault
civil trial involving Hornets Owner GEORGE SHINN, SC Circuit
Judge COSTA PLEICONES ruled that Shinn "cannot use" a letter
sent by plaintiff LESLIE PRICE requesting $5M. Price
contended the letter, which was sent five days after she
filed the alleged assault complaint with police, was an
"attempt to settle her civil claims against Shinn"
(CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 12/12). In Minneapolis, Steve
Aschburner wrote that the NBPA "will be watching NBA
commissioner DAVID STERN closely to see if he takes any
action against Shinn if the owner loses the case. Shinn
isn't facing a criminal charge, but the union wants to see
some tough standards in the executive suite, too, not just
the locker rooms" (STAR TRIBUNE, 12/12). In N.Y., Mike
Wise: "With each sexually explicit piece of testimony on the
stand, one wondered how much more embarrassment the Hornets
franchise and the league could take. ... When does George
Shinn's appearance on Court TV in midafternoon become
detrimental enough to the league's image that the N.B.A.
decides to take action?" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/12).
