Las Vegas business briefs for May 18, 2001

Friday, May 18, 2001 | 10:42 a.m.

Las Vegas in running for architects' conference

Las Vegas is in the running to host the American Institute of Architects annual convention in 2005. The convention, which rotates to a different location in May each year, draws about 16,000 of the organization's 67,000 members every year to the host city.

The AIA is meeting in Denver this year with shows in Charlotte, N.C., in 2002, San Diego in 2003 and Chicago in 2004. Las Vegas is competing with Miami and Detroit to win the convention bid in 2005, which will be announced later this year.

Separately, a long-time Las Vegas convention will grow next year with the completion of an expansion project.

The World Shoe Association, based in Newport Beach, Calif., plans to add 450 new exhibitors in its August 2002 show. The show, which recently signed a five-year contract to exhibit at the Sands Expo Center, will add a 180,000-square-foot hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center to accommodate new exhibitors that have been on a waiting list.

This year's show is expected to attract 30,000 people.

Suit filed over bridge cracking

A Las Vegas road and highway construction company sued a construction chemical maker and a seller to recover $60,700 in damages caused when an allegedly defective concrete curing compound caused extensive cracking in parts of the Las Vegas Beltway Bridge over U.S. 95.

American Asphalt & Grading Co. Inc., which was commissioned by the Clark County Department of Public Works to build a concrete bridge that is part of the beltway, sued Edoco Construction & Equipment Corp., and Costa Mesa, Calif.-based White Cap Industries II Inc., alleging it had to pay $60,700 to make the repairs because the defendants refused to accept full responsibility for the claims.

The suit said the Nevada Department of Transportation, which was supposed to take over ownership and long term maintenance of the bridge from Clark County, had refused to accept it until cracks in the concrete deck are repaired.

While White Cap had initially tried to seal the cracks, tests taken by the transportation department showed repairs were allegedly incomplete, the suit said.

White Cap declined comment on the charges. Edoco could not be reached.

Las Vegas salon sues defecting stylists

A Las Vegas hair replacement salon sued two former stylists, alleging they breached a non-compete employment agreement when they allegedly used its customer lists to solicit its clients and workers.

Hirsute Corp. doing business as Hair Club for Men sued Arlene Lawson and Linda Schiro in Clark County District Court to stop them from "engaging in the business of hair replacement" within a 25-mile radius of the salon and for a 12-month period from the date their employment ended.

The defendants could not be reached for comment.