Judge dismisses casino executive’s lawsuit over yacht work

Tuesday, March 20, 2001 | 11:17 a.m.

A Clark County District Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Gary Primm, the former chairman and chief executive of Primadonna Resorts Inc., who had accused three companies of failing to install an electronic entertainment system on his yacht.

Primm sued Fairfax, Va.-based audio/video equipment installation company Cello Technologies Corp., Cello Technologies Seattle Corp. and Cello Recordings LLC, alleging he paid them $58,000 for the $222,500 project, but demanded to be reimbursed when they allegedly made no progress towards completing the project.

The suit said the Cello companies failed to return the money.

But Judge Valorie Vega dismissed the lawsuit on March 7, saying Primm "hasn't demonstrated that the state of Nevada has prima facie jurisdiction over Cello."

Cello Technologies Corp., in court papers filed March 2, argued that the lawsuit "doesn't arise out of alleged contacts with Nevada, but rather out of the alleged failure to provide services in Florida originally contracted for by (Primm) in Washington."

Cello Technologies Corp., which said it has "never advertised in Nevada nor targeted Nevada residents for its products or services," said Primm contacted its Seattle office to install the equipment in Primm's yacht in Florida.

Primm dropped his claims against Cello Recording on Dec. 18.

Tom Hall, owner of Cello Technologies Seattle, also disputed Primm's allegations. His firm purchased Cello's Seattle operation last year.

"We did not receive the deposit. Primm made a deposit with Cello Technologies Corp. While we bought the assets of Cello Technologies in Seattle last July, the money wasn't transferred to us and we have no business relationship with Cello Technologies anymore."

The court on Feb. 7 granted Cello Technologies Seattle's request to stop the lawsuit from proceeding against the company in Nevada.

Kris Ballard, Cello Technologies Corp.'s attorney, declined further comment on Primm's allegations.