Disappearing act prompts lawsuit

Grace Leong

Friday, April 21, 2000 | 11:04 a.m.

Houdini's Magic Shop Inc. sued three former magicians, alleging they misappropriated trade secrets and violated their non-competition agreements when they joined a rival Las Vegas magic shop.

In a Clark County District Court suit, Houdini's, which owns retail magic shops at six major Las Vegas hotel-casinos including the MGM Grand, is seeking an injunction to stop three former magicians from joining any rival magic shops within a 4-mile radius of MGM Grand for three years after their employment ended at its magic shop.

The suit said defendant Timothy Wojewoda, also known as Tim Carlson, was a Houdini's magician and store manager from Dec. 24, 1995, through Jan. 1, 1999; while Arthur Ingoldsby was hired Nov. 2, 1998, and resigned last Nov. 14. Michael Little joined Jan. 25, 1999, and resigned Jan. 16.

Houdini's said Carlson and Ingoldsby didn't respond to cease and desist letters its attorney sent on Nov. 23 after it learned they were working for a rival, Maynard's Magic Shops, owned by Perry Maynard, at the Riviera and the Stratosphere hotel-casinos.

But Ingoldsby disputed the claims. "Geno Munari (Houdini's owner) doesn't own the MGM Grand. He owns the magic shop. And from (Houdini's) magic shop to (Maynard's) magic shop, it's over 4 miles."

"And a non-compete contract normally says you get paid compensation for signing the contract and you won't be an hourly employee and you get paid a signing bonus." he said. "But none of us were paid a signing bonus. There was no compensation and we were hourly employees."

Houdini's also claims Maynard's is selling a magic trick that is identical or similar to Houdini's signature trick.

Ingoldsby disagreed.

"We don't pitch on microphone the pitch we learned from Houdini's. That signature trick was documented in 1930 by (a magician) Bob Hummer," he said. "Everybody knows he didn't invent that trick. The trick that he claims is comparable to his signature trick was sold here long before I even lived in Las Vegas."