TeamWorks goes to court. (Lawsuit).

Los Angeles-based AIDS fund-raising company Pallotta TeamWorks is in the hot seat over its bicycle rides for AIDS vaccines.

The for-profit company is being sued by Palo Alto Palo Alto, city, California
Palo Alto (păl`ō ăl`tō), city (1990 pop. 55,900), Santa Clara co., W Calif.; inc. 1894. Although primarily residential, Palo Alto has aerospace, electronics, and advanced research industries. , Calif., law firm Fenwick and West, which alleges that TeamWorks has returned only $8 million of $28 million raised for AIDS vaccine research since 2000. The company is accused of misleading donors and riders, false advertising, and breach of fiduciary duty Noun 1. fiduciary duty - the legal duty of a fiduciary to act in the best interests of the beneficiary
legal duty - acts which the law requires be done or forborne . The suit seeks restitution of donations to three designated AIDS research organizations: the UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles
UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University)
UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX AIDS Institute, Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center is a medical research institution dedicated to finding a cure for HIV/AIDS. It is headed by prominent scientist Dr. David Ho, and located in New York City. , and Emory Vaccine Research Center.

"I was moved to action when I discovered how little of the total funds donated went to research for a vaccine," said Mark Cloutier, the suit's lead plaintiff and head of Continuum, a San Francisco AIDS service organization AIDS service organizations are community based that provide community support. While their primary function is to provide needed services to individuals with HIV, they also provide support services for their families and friends as well as conduct prevention efforts. . He participated in the 2001 Alaska AIDS Vaccine ride. "I want to make sure Pallotta TeamWorks does not continue to mislead the public."

Pallotta TeamWorks says the claims are groundless. "Pallotta has always been incredibly forthcoming with its numbers and percentages," said TeamWorks spokeswoman Janna Sidley.

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Title Annotation:	law firm Fenwick and West sues fund-raising company Pallotta TeamWorks for alleged mismanagement of donations for AIDS vaccine research
Author:	Quittner, Jeremy
Publication:	The Advocate (The national gay & lesbian newsmagazine)
Article Type:	Brief Article
Geographic Code:	1USA
Date:	May 28, 2002
Words:	179
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