Champion Exposition Files Suit Charging Unlawful Business Practices.BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 30, 1998--Champion Exposition Services (Champion) of Avon, Massachusetts announced today that it has filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts Superior Court against ZD Events Inc. (ZDE ZDE Zend Development Environment ), formerly SoftBank Exposition, of Needham, Massachusetts and GES GES GTN (Global Transportation Network) Exercise System GES General Estimates System (NHTSA) GES Ghana Education Service GES Government Economic Service (UK) Exposition Services (GES) of Las Vegas, Nevada, a subsidiary of Viad Corp. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :VVI VVI Vertical Velocity Indicator VVI Velocity Vector Imaging (trademark of Siemens AG) VVI Vermont Volunteer Infantry (Civil War) VVI VVimaging, Inc. ). Champion provides general contracting services for conferences, trade shows and forums. The lawsuit contends that ZDE unlawfully terminated the June 1996 Agreement under which Champion was to provide general contracting services for 20 trade shows including the Network + Interop, Atlanta conferences for 1998 - 2002, the Network + Interop Las Vegas conferences for 1999 - 2003, and the Seybold San Francisco and Seybold New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of shows through the year 2000. As part of the agreement, Champion was required to make a large up-front payment to ZDE for the right to service the trade shows. In addition, Champion expended considerable funds in preparation for the shows. The complaint alleges that ZDE required that Champion incur substantial expenses in "ramping-up" for the trade shows, including hiring of additional staff and opening of additional offices in anticipation of the Network + Interop conferences. The lawsuit further alleges that ZDE was persuaded by GES to terminate its contract with Champion in exchange for significant economic inducements. The complaint contends that ZDE has conspired with GES to engage in these practices in an effort to further diminish competition for general contracting services for conventions, trade shows and forums. The complaint further claims that ZDE has engaged in fraud, negligent misrepresentation misrepresentation In law, any false or misleading expression of fact, usually with the intent to deceive or defraud. It most commonly occurs in insurance and real-estate contracts. False advertising may also constitute misrepresentation. , bad faith conduct, and unfair and deceptive trade practices. Additionally, in its complaint, Champion claims that GES tortiously Tor´tious`ly adv. 1. (Law) In a tortous manner. interfered with Champion's contract with ZDE and that GES has committed unfair and deceptive trade practices. "Champion is appalled that ZDE would dishonor To refuse to accept or pay a draft or to pay a promissory note when duly presented. An instrument is dishonored when a necessary or optional presentment is made and due acceptance or payment is refused, or cannot be obtained within the prescribed time, or in case of bank collections, itself by terminating its obligations under the Agreement without cause or reason," explained Mark Epstein, president of Champion Exposition. "Further Champion believes that the escalating fees being paid by general contractors will result in higher fees overall. These costs will be passed on to exhibitors who already bear the burden of rising costs and local economies whose businesses rely heavily on trade show traffic." Champion Exposition Services has operated in Avon, Massachusetts for more than 12 years and has grown to be a leading provider of general contracting services for trade shows, conventions and forums nationwide.
CONTACT: The Rasky Baerlein Group
Larry Rasky, 617/443-9933 ext. 308
OR
Faith Weiner, 617/443-9933 ext. 321
|
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion