Desert Inn sued again over show

Monday, Oct. 18, 1999 | 11:55 a.m.

The widow of entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. sued the Desert Inn, claiming it has violated federal trademark laws in its promotion of "The Rat Pack is Back" impersonation show.

Altovise Davis, a Pennsylvania resident and widow of the only black member of the famed group of entertainers led by Frank Sinatra, filed the suit Friday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas through her Las Vegas attorney Morton Galane.

Galane had filed a similar suit against the Desert Inn on behalf of Sheffield Enterprises, which protects the licensing rights for Sinatra's image and is owned by Sinatra's children Tina, Nancy and Frank Jr.

The lawsuits do not seek an injunction to stop the show, nor do they seek to prevent the performers from imitating the popular Strip entertainers of the 1950s through the '80s. The suit seeks damages, claiming the hotel, through its advertising of the show, violated the Federal Trademark Dilution Act of 1995.

The show, produced by actor David Cassidy and writer Don Reo, opened in July in the 300-room Starlight Lounge.

Other members of the Rat Pack included singer Dean Martin, comedian Joey Bishop and actor Peter Lawford.