Former Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore had the first of what will probably be many days in court yesterday, as he attended a hearing on whether or not his case against the Vancouver Canucks, Todd Bertuzzi, Brad May, Brian Burke and Mark Crawford will move forward in a federal court in Denver.
Lawyers for the Canucks want the case thrown out:
"We're here because of something that happened in Canada between citizens of Canada," Canucks attorney Michael O'Donnell said. "Most of the witnesses and evidence are in British Columbia, and that's where this case belongs."Moore's attorney Lee Foreman argued that the case should stay in Denver because the plan to harm Moore was launched here.
One other interesting wrinkle: May, now playing in Denver after leaving Vancouver as a free agent, made a brief appearance on the stand, and even introduced himself to Moore. Later, the judge ordered May's testimony be suspended as it had no bearing on the jurisdictional question the court was determining.
Over in the Denver Post, Terry Frei is reporting that Colorado GM Pierre Lacroix has met with Moore, and told him that the team would be interested in signing him if and when he's cleared to play again.
In a Sunday morning column, Frei had this to say about the stakes involved for the league:
Yes, the NHL is nervous about this, and it should be.If the case goes forward and players, trainers, coaches and others are called to the stand, are sworn in and abide by the oath, testimony could get ugly and choices would be made about who gets tossed under the Vancouver team bus.
The NHL again would be on trial, and even far more so than when Boston's Marty McSorley was tried in Vancouver for taking a stick to the head of the Canucks' Donald Brashear.
None of that excuses the Avalanche's unwillingness to make a public expression of support and compassion for Moore.
Yes, the puck is about to drop. But this isn't going away. And it shouldn't.
One thing should be clear: If this case is heard in Denver, it will generate far more media attention than if it were heard in Vancouver.
A Denver trial has CourtTV written all over it.
