Four longtime Bucs season-ticket holders who sued the
team over their seating locations when it moved to Raymond
James Stadium (RJS) in '98 "may now get their pick of some
of the best seats in the house," according to Sue Carlton of
the ST. PETERSBURG TIMES. Attorney Jonathan Alpert, who
represented the fans, announced yesterday that "both sides
had reached an amicable settlement after more than 13 hours
of court-ordered negotiation." In the arrangement, the team
has agreed to make 120 seats available to season-ticket
holders "unhappy with their seats." About a third of those
seats "will be in choice sections" near the 50-yard line at
RJS, and the four fans who filed the lawsuit will get first
pick. In addition, the four fans will be given a $5,000
credit line by the team "that can be used to pay off tickets
or parking in the years to come." The Bucs "also agreed to
drop" the $1M defamation suit they filed against three of
the fans "who complained publicly" about the team after it
moved to RJS and will also pay $180,000 in attorney fees and
$30,000 in additional costs (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 6/22).
