Mirage and Trump are tight-lipped on settlement of suits

Thursday, Feb. 24, 2000 | 10:48 a.m.

Mirage Resorts Inc. settled a pair of lawsuits against archrival Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts Inc., the companies announced Wednesday.

However, neither company is saying why -- or what concessions may have been given by either company.

In a statement, Mirage said it agreed to drop a $150 million antitrust lawsuit filed three years ago against Trump in New York federal court. In this case, Mirage said a series of lawsuits filed by Trump were designed solely to prevent Mirage from entering the Atlantic City market.

Trump had sued to prevent the state from funding a roadway and tunnel connecting the site of the proposed Mirage casino in Atlantic City with the Atlantic City. Trump also backed a second lawsuit against the project, filed by city residents. Mirage also accused Trump of lobbying officials in an attempt to kill the project.

What is not clear was whether Trump has now agreed to drop its legal and procedural challenges to the Atlantic City project. The Mirage press release did not say, and both companies refused further comment on the case.

Construction on the $330 million project began last year, with Mirage footing two-thirds of the bill. But in January, an appeals court ordered the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to hold hearings on whether the project would impair access to Trump's Marina hotel-casino. Donald Trump had vowed to take the matter to court if the department doesn't rule in his favor.

The second lawsuit dismissed Wednesday involved accusations that Trump had used former Mirage employees to gather confidential Mirage information. That lawsuit was filed last April.

Former Mirage marketing representative Laura Choi was arrested in Korea in 1997 while attempting to collect gambling debts from Mirage patrons in that country, a violation of that country's laws. Choi claimed she was ordered by Mirage executives to do so, while Mirage insisted she acted on her own.

Following her return to the United States, Mirage claimed Choi provided lists of Mirage's Asian high-rollers to Trump. Choi and Trump denied this, and Choi filed a countersuit against Mirage, claiming wrongful termination.

Choi's attorneys said she will continue to press her wrongful termination suit against Mirage.

The Mirage press release said the settlements did not involve monetary concessions by either party.