Business briefs for June 12, 2001

Tuesday, June 12, 2001 | 10:51 a.m.

Cell phone giant warns of slowdown

HELSINKI, Finland -- Citing a slowdown in the U.S. economy, the world's largest cell phone maker Nokia said today its earnings and revenue growth will be lower than expected in the current quarter.

The announcement took the market by surprise and Nokia's share price plunged 22.8 percent to close at 26.52 euros in trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.

"We have recently seen a weakening in market conditions to levels below our earlier estimates," said Jorma Ollila, Nokia's chief executive.

Nokia said the slowdown has spread from the United States, its biggest market, to the rest of the world.

Las Vegas Wal-Mart hearing- aid retailer sued over name

National Hearing Center Inc. of Las Vegas sued to stop National Hearing Centers Inc. of Springfield, Mo., from advertising under that name, allegedly confusing the Las Vegas company's customers.

The hearing aid retailer at 4580 S. Eastern Avenue said it was incorporated in Nevada on Feb. 16, 1996.

The Clark County District Court lawsuit says its rival, National Hearing Centers, has outlets in two Wal-Mart supercenters in North Las Vegas and Henderson and was incorporated on Oct. 23.

National Hearing Center said it began to receive phone calls from its clients asking about its rival's new locations at 8060 W. Tropical Parkway and 540 Marks Street after the defendant began to advertise its services in Las Vegas newspapers.

Chris Anderson, the defendant's division manager, declined comment.

Website name subject of suit

A Las Vegas golf and tennis club sued to stop a Las Vegas man and his company from using the domain name "www.lasvegascountryclub.com" and advertising under the name Las Vegas Country Club or the New Las Vegas Country Club.

The New Las Vegas Country Club sued Christopher Lombardo and his company, Count Christopher Lombardo LLC, alleging it discovered in August the domain name had been registered by him when it tried to establish a website under that domain name.

The suit said Lombardo wasn't affiliated with the club but his website allegedly included the phrase "official site."

The club, which has been operating in Las Vegas for nearly 30 years, said Lombardo infringed on its common law right to the Las Vegas Country Club trade name and allegedly repeatedly refused to stop using the name even after being notified twice by the club.

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