A judge on Friday sent the legal dispute between Predators co-Owner David Freeman and Chair Tom Cigarran back to the NHL for arbitration, noting Freeman's contract with the league was "unambiguous," according to Barchenger & Rau of the Nashville TENNESSEAN. Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle also "dismissed Freeman's request to halt the arbitration process." In June, Freeman filed a $250M lawsuit accusing Cigarran and the Predators of "failing to honor loan guaranty fees he says are owed to him and keeping him in the dark about the franchise's financial operations." The dispute "was already in arbitration at the league office." Her ruling "delivered a blow to the owner, saying the clear language of Freeman's agreement with the Predators obligates arbitration and establishes NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's interest to consider what's best for the league." Freeman had argued in court that Bettman "had an interest in quashing disputes between owners in order to maintain the health of the league, and thus his dispute should continue before a judge" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 7/30).
