There's been a little bit of an uproar over Paul Lawrence, lead attorney for the city, asking U.S. District Court judge Marsha Pechman for the opportunity to allow Wally Walker to talk about his background with the Sonics in order to have it on the record for a future appeal.

Some saw Lawrence's statement as an admission of the city conceding the case, and that they are now focusing on the appeal.

However, the comment could just have been easily construed as Lawrence's attempt to have a clean record for whichever side ends up appealing after the decision by Pechman.

Aaron Wolff, a local attorney involved with Save Our Sonics, said the comment made during a jury trial could be viewed as an admission of defeat, however judges understand the request as an effort to make sure the record is clean in case of an appeal, and did not view Lawrence's actions as an admission of defeat.

Whatever your take is on Lawrence's action, there no disputing the fact that Wally Walker's testimony will be difficult for the city to overcome.

Defense attorney's for the Sonics painted a clear picture of Walker's involvement with Slade Gordon, Steve Ballmer and Mike McGavick in an orchestrated effort to keep the team in Seattle long term, which included a plan to "drive a wedge" between the NBA and the ownership group.

You can view the poisoned well Powerpoint here.

Walker talked briefly after his testimony, which you can listen to here.

In the cross examination, Lawrence tried to create distance between the city and this plan put together by McGavick. In the document the city is mentioned as a third party that the group needs to try and work with.

However, attorneys for the Sonics provided evidence which seems to suggest that Walker was acting as a consultant for the city at the time the poisoned well plan was in place. Also, Slade Gordon, an attorney for K & L Gates, was retained by the city during the plan's inception.

In cross examination Walker said that from July 19th through September he was meeting with Gordon to discuss plans to build a privately funded arena in Bellevue, which Ballmer ultimately decided was not a good idea.

Matt Griffin, spokesperson for the private investment group led by Ballmer, will be on the stand after the break. Seattle city council member Nick Licata is expected to follow.