From Bruce Hutchinson at the National Post,

A bitter ownership dispute between two wealthy Vancouver families goes to trial on Monday in the Supreme Court of British Columbia. In one corner is the Gaglardi clan. It claims to have been betrayed by former friends and business associates, the Aquilini family, during a protracted attempt three years ago to purchase the Canucks from reclusive Seattle billionaire John McCaw Jr.
The Aquilinis deny they benefited from confidential information—allegedly obtained from the Gaglardis—when they successfully and very quietly negotiated a deal for the Canucks.
No one saw them coming. The Aquilinis shocked Vancouver’s tightly knit business community, announcing in November, 2004 that they had purchased a 50% share of the Canucks and the GM Place arena.
This, when the Gaglardis seemed within a whisker of closing their own deal, for full control of the franchise.

Well worth a read for Vancouver fans, or anyone who follows the business side of hockey. It’s an excellent summary of the legal situation facing the Canucks, as this prolonged case finally heads to court next week.

Note: I wonder if the “Official Legal Counsel to the Vancouver Canucks and General Motors Place” will be recouping a pile of their February sponsorship investment now? Seems like a safe bet. (Geez, I knew I should have been a lawyer… they always win their game.)