Judge rejects injunction, clearing way for Kings' new arena

A Sacramento judge has rejected an opponent group's request for an injunction against the construction of the Sacramento Kings' new arena, clearing the way for the project to begin.

A Sacramento judge has rejected an opponent group's request for an injunction against the construction of the Sacramento Kings' new arena, clearing the way for the project to begin, according to the Sacramento Bee.

A citizens' group filed a $477 million lawsuit against the city and its arena plans in May, arguing that the building of the arena would cause significant environmental problems. The group sought an injunction to halt the project until the lawsuit was resolved.

In a tentative ruling Thursday, Judge Timothy Rawley rejected the group's request. On the basis of state law SB 743, which was written solely to speed the arena process, opponents have to prove the project poses an "imminent threat" to the public or that it endangers American Indian artifacts.

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“Petitioners make only passing arguments, unsupported with citation to authority or evidence, that construction of the downtown arena presents an ‘imminent threat to the public health and safety’ or would adversely affect ‘unforeseen important’ historical/archaeological artificats or ecological values,” Frawley wrote.

Frawley also turned aside the group’s claim that SB 743 is unconstitutional.

Earlier this month, court filings were made public in which Kings management urged a judge to force arena opponents to pay a bond of $100 million to protect against supposed financial losses resulting from any delay in arena construction.

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The Kings' new arena is scheduled to open in October 2016.

- Ben Estes