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Las Vegas Casino Companies Deny Bullying over Mississippi Site2 August 2001JACKSON, Mississippi —– As reported by the Associated Press : "Two operators of Vicksburg casinos argued Wednesday before Mississippi's high court they didn't exert undo influence over regulators' consideration of a proposed gambling house along the Big Black River. "David Kaufman, a Jackson attorney representing Ameristar Casinos Inc. and Harrah's Entertainment Inc., both of Las Vegas, said the casinos did nothing more than exercise their First Amendment right to petition the government over a grievance. "In October 1999, a Pike County jury awarded more than $3 million to landowner E.L. Pennebaker of Warren County and Jim Belisle of Multi-Gaming Management. "The two had sued over claims that AmSouth, Isle of Capri Casino, Harrah's and Ameristar conspired to influence the Mississippi Gaming Commission to block Multi-Gaming from developing a casino in east Warren County. "The Isle of Capri settled for an undisclosed amount before the case was tried. AmSouth, former Deposit Guaranty National Bank, reached a settlement in October 2000. Terms of that settlement also were not announced. Harrah's and Ameristar appealed to the Mississippi Supreme Court. "Kaufman acknowledged the casinos contacted Gaming Commission officials in private. He said the contacts were legal and part of the commission's open door policy…" |