‘I think we can win’: 2 lawsuits against F1, Clark County look to gain traction

LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — An off-Strip hotel-casino that sued Formula One and Clark County four months ago had its day in court the same week another lawsuit was filed against the racing giant.

Of the group of businesses located around the 3.8-mile circuit – which collectively claimed revenue losses as high as $30 million because of F1 track installation, racing and dismantling – Ellis Island Hotel & Casino was the first to file a lawsuit in late April.

Thursday, a Clark County District Court judge sent the hotel-casino’s attorneys back to the drawing board. Court records show both F1 and Clark County asked for several claims to be dismissed for being too vague. These included claims about intentional interference and the amount of revenue reportedly lost.

The judge ultimately dismissed three claims, while leaving the door open for the attorney to redefine the claims and return. Friday, Attorney J. Randall Jones told 8 News Now:

“While the Ellis Island parties believed their Complaint included sufficient details under Nevada law, the Court ruled that additional details and clarification were needed on some of the claims. The Ellis Island parties are happy to comply with the Court’s ruling and will have an amended complaint on file consistent with the deadline that will be set by the Court. The Ellis Island parties look forward to proceeding with the case thereafter.”

Days prior, a second lawsuit was filed by the attached Battista’s Hole in the Wall and Stage Door Casino on Tuesday. The businesses are located inside the circuit and claim a shared parking lot was blocked during initial construction, the racing events and the dismantling phase.

The 32-page lawsuit repeats many concerns detailed in the first lawsuit.

“(Our) future and well-being has been placed in jeopardy by the very local government that was elected to protect its constituents and by outside interests in the form of the Las Vegas Grand Prix Race that has caused Battista’s to lose millions to date,” the lawsuit reads, in part. “This case is about wrongful interference with business rights and the unlawful interference with, and taking of, Plaintiffs’ property interests and property rights for which Plaintiffs are entitled to compensation.”

Lisa Mayo-DeRiso, spokesperson for the disgruntled businesses, doesn’t believe Thursday’s court action was unfavorable to Ellis Island, or the fate of future legal proceedings. She referred to it as a “very complicated situation” that allows the hotel-casino’s grievances to “fight another day.”

Will those businesses ever be compensated?

“I hope so,” Mayo-DeRiso said. “We have a precedent case. The Clark County Gypsum Resource case that was going on for five years and people thought, ‘Oh, there’s never going to be any compensation in that case,’ and they settled with $80 million and the right to build houses.”

“Our courts and our judicial system believe in property rights, so, I believe there’s precedent in that – I think we can win.”

Of the four businesses she represents, she says lawsuits from Ferraro’s Ristorante and Jay’s Market on Flamingo are “pending.”

The Las Vegas Grand Prix and Clark County tell 8 News Now that they do not comment on pending litigation. It is unclear when Ellis Island will return to court and when Battista’s Hole in the Wall and Stage Door Casino will reach the courtroom.

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