Telephone company sued by LV firm

Thursday, April 12, 2001 | 10:53 a.m.

A Las Vegas telecommunications provider sued MPower Communications Corp., alleging some of its equipment at Mpower's main switching office at 3165 Palm Center Drive in Las Vegas was damaged after air conditioning for the office was allegedly shut down.

Gourmet Express Inc. doing business as One Source Teleservices, which provides local and long distance telephone, internet services, voice mail and prepaid calling cards, said Mpower agreed in 1997 to sublease part of its switching center for the placement of One Source's long distance network system.

"We entered the agreement because it's cheaper to rent floor space and hook up with Mpower's already established telecommunications lines than tie in to the international phone network," said Joe Poplawski, One Source's spokesman.

The suit alleged Mpower breached the agreement when it failed to "furnish air conditioning and or other environmental controls for (One Source's) area in a manner consistent with those provided elsewhere in the building."

Mpower officials could not be reached for comment.