Hornets Targeted In New Lawsuits

A new lawsuit filed against the New Orleans Hornets claims the team deprived sales personnel of commissions by falsely recording sales of private suites as if they were group ticket sales in less expensive sections -- a practice that also could have resulted in inflated attendance figures.

The lawsuit is one of several new actions filed this week against the Hornets, who already were accused of failing to pay overtime in a federal lawsuit filed earlier this year. There are 12 plaintiffs in that first case, one of whom still works for the team.

The new legal actions include a request for a protective order, filed in response to allegations in sworn affidavits, that Hornets executives have sought to intimidate other employees who might qualify to join the federal overtime lawsuit by threatening firings and bad references, which would be illegal. The request also alleges that certain executives have made false statements about the lawsuit in an effort to discourage employees from participating.

"This is not something you want to put your name on, because you will never get a good reference of this place," Hornets executive Christy McKearn told former employee Chris Stant during his exit interview, according to an affidavit.

While some of the plaintiffs were fired, Stant quit, despite executives' urging him to stay, because of what he termed "unbearable" working conditions and his director's "questionable business practices," the affidavit said.

Via Sports Illustrated

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Hornets Sign Lithuanian

The New Orleans Hornets have signed Lithuanian shooting guard Arvydas Macijauskas to a three-year contract.

His agent Marc Fleisher believes he will be a good fit for the team.

"We looked at a lot of teams, but we thought New Orleans is a great place where he will have an opportunity to hopefully contribute right away," Fleisher said. "I think he plays a very exciting flamboyant style of basketball, and I think he will be a huge crowd favorite."

"He's the best shooter outside of the NBA, and a lot of people in the NBA would tell you that he probably would be one of the two or three best shooters in the NBA," Fleisher said. "He's phenomenal at the foul line, and he gets there frequently. He drives very well, and he's much more than an outside shooter. He can put the ball on the floor and can go hard.

Macijauskas is expected to start for the Hornets at shooting guard with J.R. Smith moving to small forward.

Via New Orleans Times-Picayune

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Paul Sprains Wrist; X-Rays Come Back Negative

The New Orleans Hornets top draft pick, point guard Chris Paul, sprained his wrist Friday night in a Vegas Summer League game.

X-Rays came back negative, revealing no real damage according to GM Allan Bristow.

Via Sports Illustrated

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