Legal briefs

Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001 | 10:35 a.m.

Recently filed local business-related lawsuits, rulings and dismissals. Except where noted, the defendants either couldn't be reached for comment, declined comment or haven't responded to the allegations.

* Planet Bingo LLC of Rancho Mirage, Calif. sued to stop Reno-based GameTech International Inc. from infringing its two bingo game patents.

GameTech is accused of selling a game, "Rainbow Bingo," that allegedly embodies Planet Bingo's two bingo game patents. GameTech is also accused of displaying and marketing the patents at a Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas from Oct. 1-3.

* Ad Art Electronic Sign Corp. of Stockton, Calif. sued Herb Pastor, owner of two downtown Las Vegas casinos, and his company Herb Pastor Enterprises, alleging they defaulted on a $224,570 payment for repair and maintenance services.

But Herb Pastor denied the allegation. "We did not default. Ad Art didn't complete the new La Bayou sign it was contracted to build. Ad Art went out of business after they were contracted to build the sign, so they are grasping at anything to develop cash for their company."

* The Venetian sued to recover $61,296 from its former ticket agent YouTicket.com Inc., alleging it improperly retained proceeds from ticket sales of a show at the hotel-casino.

* Steve Wynn's company Valvino Lamore LLC won an order to recover seven domain names that allegedly infringe its Desert Inn trademark.

* Disabled rights activist Ronald Ray Smith sued to force Pacific Properties and Development Corp., a Las Vegas builder of four condominium complexes, to make the common areas and ground-floor units of the buildings accessible to people with disabilities.

Smith accused Pacific Properties -- which was sued in February by the government for allegedly violating the Fair Housing Act -- of breaching an agreement it struck with the government when it allegedly failed to comply with federal housing laws. The government agreed in March to drop its lawsuit against Pacific if it agreed to comply with federal housing laws.

* The owner of Polo Towers sued Las Vegas architectural firm Domingo Cambeiro Professional Corp., alleging the completion of its third tower is being stalled because the architect allegedly refused to provide additional copies of plans and drawings.

* Black Mountain Owners Association sued Trustee Development Inc. and developer Addison Contracting Inc., alleging a 99-unit condominium complex at Anne Lane, east of Black Mountain Country Club in Henderson, contains defects.

* Pacific International Aviation Services of Las Vegas sued to recover a $215,042 payment from Brigham Young University for private air charter services to be provided for a football game to be held in Honolulu on Dec. 1.

* The family of Jeneen Alejandro of Las Vegas sued Bridgestone/Firestone Inc., its parent Bridgestone Corp. of Japan, Ford Motor Co. Inc. and a local dealership, Friendly Ford, alleging she suffered injuries when a defective Firestone Wilderness AT tire blew out, causing her car to roll over. The suit said she is now confined to a wheelchair.

* Environmental Health Services Inc. is named in three lawsuits filed by several condominium owners at Mar-A-Lago Homeowners Association and Admiral's Point Homeowners Association in Las Vegas. The lawsuits allege the plaintiffs became ill because of the company's negligence in testing their homes for toxic mold contamination.

* Ronald and Donna Bailey, the landlords of three Pelican Creek model homes, sued to force Las Vegas developer Saxton Inc. to complete refurbishing the homes.

* Two Jitters Gourmet Coffee Inc. franchisees sued the company and its principals over a dispute over a franchise agreement.

* Las Vegas cable television provider Cox Communications Las Vegas Inc., which accused 39 Las Vegas Valley residents in March of illegally using "pirate" cable television decoding devices to steal its services, dropped its claims against three residents.