Crown Center Wins Suit

A Superior Court judge in Fayetteville, N.C., recently ruled in favor of Cumberland County in a suit filed by a promoter against the county and the Crown Center last year.

Arena Productions owner Rodney Nichols reportedly planned to hold a trade show at the Crown Expo Center in 2003, and sued the county last year when that deal fell through, claiming that Rick Reno, CEO of the Crown Center, did not allow him to hold the show.

But Nichols admitted in Superior Court that he had never signed a lease or paid a deposit to secure the Center for the weekend of the trade show, the Fayetteville Observer reported.

Nichols claimed it was common practice in the industry to prepare for an event before a date had been settled, and said that was the case at the Crown Center prior to Reno’s tenure in 2001. Nichols reportedly sought damages in excess of $10,000 for expenses he incurred in planning the show.

County Attorney Grainger Barrett argued that Reno, who became CEO of the center in 2001, made it clear to Nichols that both a lease and a deposit were needed to secure the Crown Center, and that contracts would be negotiated differently to tighten up procedures, the Observer reported.

Barrett also submitted a memo from Reno to Nichols as evidence, which stated that any discussion of dates was tentative until Nichols signed a lease agreement and paid a deposit.

Reno could not be reached for further comment.