Adelson wins round in court against Culinary

Grace Leong

Thursday, March 30, 2000 | 10:51 a.m.

Venetian owner Sheldon Adelson has won the right to a court trial on his claim that Culinary Workers Union Local No. 226 violated a 1994-1997 collective bargaining agreement with the old Sands Hotel & Casino.

U.S. District Judge Philip M. Pro on March 24 denied the union's request to dismiss claims filed by Adelson's Las Vegas Sands Inc. Adelson's company alleges the union engaged in a pressure campaign to force the Las Vegas Sands to give recall rights to former LVSI employees for positions at the Venetian megaresort following the closure of the Sands hotel-casino.

Las Vegas Sands, which owns Venetian Casino Resort LLC, was the owner and operator of the Sands hotel-casino that was imploded in November 1996. The Venetian was built in its place.

Las Vegas Sands sued the culinary union in 1997, alleging it applied "political pressure to delay or deny the necessary licenses, permits and approvals in an effort to force LVSI to recognize the union."

David Friedman, assistant to the chairman of the Las Vegas Sands, in a Sep. 2, 1997, affidavit, said the union also "lobbied and pressured the Nevada Gaming Control Board to re-examine the status of LVSI's gaming license," and tried to interfere with its efforts to obtain financing for the Venetian project through Goldman, Sachs & Co.

"We are pleased with Judge Pro's ruling. We believe the Culinary Union's actions were completely unjustifiable and beyond what anyone could consider appropriate conduct," he said. "The union engaged in numerous breaches of its now-expired collective bargaining agreement and has been trying to avoid responsibility for these breaches."

Richard McCracken, the union's attorney, could not be reached for comment.

Pro on March 24 denied the union's motion for summary judgment and ordered the parties to file a proposed pretrial order by April 24. A trial date has not been set.