Las Vegas business briefs

CIRCUS CIRCUS WINS ROUND IN SUIT OVER INTERNET GAMING -- A federal judge ordered a German company to cease using the word "Circus" in its on-line gaming business. Las Vegas-based Circus Circus Enterprises sued WWW Internetgames GmbH in March, alleging the company was infringing on Circus Circus' trademark. WWW Internetgames operates a gaming web site titled "circus-casino.com" that features a circus motiff. Judge Howard McKibben issued an order prohibiting the company from using the Circus name or likeness on any public communication in the United States.

JUDGE KEEPS STATION CASINOS SHUTTLE BUSSES ON THE ROAD -- U.S. District Judge David Hagen denied a motion last week that would have forced Station Casinos to cease operation of six of its shuttle busses. Two members of the Utah-based Disabled Rights Action Committee sued the company last February, alleging the busses violated the Americans with Disabilities Act because they were not wheelchair accessible. Hagen ordered Station to file a status report by Sept. 1 on the progress in replacing those busses and on the success of its interim program of offering alternative transportation to people with disabilities. Station spokesman Jack Taylor said the company plans to retrofit its 29- and 31-passenger bus by February 1999 and its whole fleet by August 1999.

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY SUES CASINO -- Grove Inc. sued Gary E. Ellis Enterprises and Fame Operating Co. in Clark County District Court, seeking an order declaring a lien it filed against Ellis is valid. Grove alleges it is owed $579,000 for work it did on a casino renovation and parking garage project in 1996 at Ellis Island casino on Koval Lane. Grove contends changes in the projects led to delays and higher costs. Ellis sued Grove earlier this month, seeking to have the lien lifted and alleging the parking garage Grove built extended onto property Ellis did not own.

AMERICAN VANTAGE REFUNDING $2.6 MILLION TO INVESTORS -- American Vantage Companies said it will refund $2.6 million to investors in its 64-percent owned subsidiary, G & L Acquisition Corp. G & L raised the money in a 1997 private placement, but was unable to reinvest it within an 18 month period, as required by the placement. According to company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, G & L was formed to establish or purchase a California card room, a ship-based gaming business or a leisure business. G & L was unable to find an investment meeting these criteria within the 18-month period, the company said. American Vantage provides casino consulting services to the Table Mountain Indian Tribe, near Fresno, and is developing a funeral home and cemetery in North Las Vegas.

HIGHER PROFIT AT FIRST SECURITY -- First Security Corp. of Salt Lake City, parent of First Security Bank, reported a second-quarter profit of $63.1 million before special charges for a California acquisition. That's up 23.3 percent from the year-ago quarter.

To contact Sun Business Editor Steve Green, call 259-4083 or e-mail [email protected]

archive