LV company sues executive search firm

Monday, Nov. 27, 2000 | 10:51 a.m.

Ameristar Casinos Inc. sued a Las Vegas head-hunting company, alleging it defaulted on an agreement to find suitable candidates for the positions of president and chief operating officer for the hotel-casino operator.

In a Clark County District Court lawsuit, Ameristar said Spencer Stuart & Associates Inc. promised to find president/COO candidates who could "join the Ameristar team to help execute the growth plans necessary to take Ameristar to the next level of success."

Craig Neilsen is Ameristar's current president and chief executive officer. Gordon Kanofski, Ameristar's senior vice president of legal affairs, declined to comment on why the hotel-casino was seeking president/COO candidates.

Ameristar said it hired Spencer Stuart on Nov. 3, 1999, and agreed to pay a $165,000 fee and out-of-pocket travel costs of all candidates.

The defendant could not be reached for comment on the lawsuit.

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