Hockey promoters target of lawsuits

Joplin city leaders may need to ask Global Entertainment officials some serious questions before they move forward with a proposal to build an arena and put a minor league hockey team in the city.
Documents filed Jan. 13 with the Securities and Exchange Commission show that Arizona-based Global has been the target of multiple lawsuits, including one in which the city is a co-defendant, and another in which the plaintiff is asking for $4.5 million.
One suit was filed in November in the 332nd Judicial District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas. "Global is named as a defendant, along with the local municipality, in a lawsuit filed by the family of an employee of the Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas," according to the filing. "The suit asks for unspecified damages related to the death of the employee resulting from an accident at the arena."
Global officials say they intend "vigorously defend this action. Although the outcome of this matter cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe that we have valid defenses to the alleged claims."
Global is also the defendant in a lawsuit filed in August in Maricopa County Superior Court in Arizona, in which a Central Hockey League franchisee (Global owns the league) sued for breach of a protected territory clause which prohibits the league from locating teams too close geographically to its teams. Global has filed a countersuit.
The SEC filing also indicates a lawsuit has been filed against Global by Nustadia Developments, Inc., and PBK Architects. "The suit arises out of certain contracts between Global and the plaintiffs, pursuant to which Global agreed to use architectural design and development management services of the plaintiffs with respect to certain arena development projects," the filing said.
"The suit asks for direct damages of $4,500,000 and other unspecified damages for alleged breach of contract, tortious interference with business expediency, and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing," according to the SEC document.
That lawsuit was filed in December and is pending in Maricopa County, Arizona, the SEC filing indicated.