Sure, it screwed up a little, but the amount certainly wasn't in the nosebleed zone, and it certainly wasn't deliberate. Seafirst enters the picture because attorneys for the city of San Francisco found an eyebrow-raising audit report amid the thousands of documents so far turned over by the bank. The judge agreed. BofA spokesman Cary Walker says the city is attempting to expand the case to cover Seafirst because its fishing expeditions so far have turned up no proof. The bank had the money, but the records just didn't show it.
City officials say the accounting troubles help prove their case.
Seafirst officials won't comment on the lawsuit and refer questions to Bank of America. Meanwhile in Washington state, officials are watching and wondering. After several years of bringing in money for Microsoft Corp., Tim Breidigan now wants to spend some. Just possibly, however, for a future competitor. Breidigan, named a vice president, says as much as 25 percent of that may be invested in Seattle-area companies.