EVERETT — The Everett Silvertips are disputing the claims made by former general manager Doug Soetaert that he did not receive payment in accordance with his contract.
Soetaert, who was dismissed by the Silvertips in February after nearly a decade as the Western Hockey League team’s GM, filed a lawsuit in Snohomish County Superior Court earlier this month claiming he did not receive proper compensation from the team for bonuses tied to financial performance and tenure. He is seeking unpaid wages, along with damages and attorney’s fees.
However, the Silvertips are disputing Soetaert’s claims. On Thursday the team’s lawyer, Joel Nichols, said he was in the process of filing the team’s answer to Soetaert’s lawsuit with the court, and that the Silvertips are disputing Soetaert’s claims.
“What I can tell you is the team paid him and continues to pay him in accordance with his contract,” said Nichols, who planned on filing the team’s answer Thursday afternoon. “We’re sorry he felt the need to file the lawsuit. We feel it’s the action of a disgruntled ex-employee, and we look forward to the case being determined in court, and not in the court of public opinion.”
Nichols said he was not prepared to discuss the specific claims made by Soetaert in the lawsuit.
Soetaert was the first general manager in Silvertips history, being hired in 2002. He built the teams that won the WHL’s U.S. Division in three of the franchise’s first four seasons. After a one-year hiatus, Soetaert returned as the team’s general manager in 2006. The Silvertips, who were eliminated from the playoffs Wednesday night, have not won a playoff series since 2007.
Though Soetaert was dismissed in February, he is still technically an employee of the team. He continues to receive his salary until his contract expires in May.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at NickHPatterson.
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