Thursday, Oct. 12, 2000 | 9:25 a.m.
In October 1999, a Pike County jury awarded $4 million to E.L. Pennebaker of Warren County and Jim Belisle, of Multi-Gaming Management.
Both men had sued over claims that AmSouth, Harrah's Casino and Ameristar conspired to influence the Mississippi Gaming Commission to block a casino in east Warren County.
Isle of Capri was named in the Pike County lawsuit, but settled for an undisclosed amount before the case was tried.
Rick Swagler, a spokesman for AmSouth Bank, said the bank had no comment on the tentative settlement.
William Spell, one of the attorneys for Pennebaker and Belisle, said an agreement was reached. He declined to discuss details.
Pennebaker owns land next to the planned site for a casino and racetrack on the Big Black River by Belisle's group.
The site was rejected by the Gaming Commission in 1996 as unsuitable.
Three Vicksburg casinos, the City of Vicksburg and business groups opposed the development 13 miles closer to Jackson as harmful to tourism.
Biloxi, Miss.-based Isle of Capri has riverboat casinos in Marquette and Bettendorf, Iowa, as well as casinos in Louisiana, Mississippi and Colorado.
In Davenport, Iowa, the company is buying The President riverboat casino, which it plans to replace with a newer vessel, the Rhythm City, early next year.
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