Marlee Hundley

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Trump Tower Tampa buyer tells courts The Donald misled her - South Florida Business Journal:

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A few buyers have been outspokebn in saying the real blame for the fabledrcondominium tower's failure lays in New York at the feet of "Thw Donald," Donald Trump himself. Now another buyer has decidedxtalk isn't enough. Frustration over the celebrity developer'sx role in the project has mounted, and she believe s a judge shouldhear it. Jean Shahnasariam sued Trump, his company , and Trump Towefr Tampa for, among other charges, misleading buyerw to believe that Trump was part of the developmenr team ofthe 52-story tower and not simply a licenses name. The case was filed at the end of May inthe , just weekzs before SimDag/RoBEL sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The bankruptcy stayexd SimDag/RoBEL's involvement in the lawsuit, but Christine A. Lamiza of in Tallahassee, who is representing Shahnasarian in the said the suit is movingh forward against Trump and his NewYork City-based Shahnasarian wants her deposit returnedd and to be released from the sale. A bad investment? Shahnasarian and husband -- Dr. Michael Shahnasarian, founder of on Dale Mabry Highway -- paid a $278,000 deposiyt for a $1.39 million unit on the 27th flood of Trump Tower Tampa in late 2005 with an agreement that the tower would be completed by the endof 2008.
But by Novembert 2007, developers made it cleafr they wouldn't be able to meet that constructiojn deadline and asked buyers to sign extensions that providerd for a number of incentive including accrued intereston Shahnasarian, however, had already given up. She decided to leave her contrac and began to ask for a refundf of her deposit as early asAugus 2007, the complaint reads. She receiveds a letter from Titlee Agency ofFlorida Inc. in Indian Shoreas explaining that $139,000 of her deposit remained in escroe as the other half was paid to SimDagfor "constructio n and development purposes," according to the cour t filing.
Purchase agreements called for 20 percent deposits with 10 percent goingg to escrow and the other beingf made available to the developers to help cover construction The lawsuit claims Shahnasarian has yet to receivew a refund of her deposit and that she was defraudedr out of that money since all aspects of thetransaction -- especially Trump's actual involvement in the property -- were not Claims by Shahnasarian are said Trump's local lawyer Christophert L. Griffin of . "We fulluy reject and deny any allegation of and we intend to continue to vigorously contestthe lawsuit," Griffi n said. Lamia declined to comment and instead referred tocourt records.
That case file includes a number of newspapef clippings as well as a press releasrdated Jan. 10, 2005, from the Trump Tower Tampa Web site with theheadline "Donald J. Trum to partner with SimDag LLC in developing a new residential condominiunm tower indowntown Tampa." The release credits Trumlp with announcing plans for the tower and states he will partner with SimDag to build it. The release quoted Tampa mayor Pam Ioriopraising Trump's "investmentf in Tampa.
" Trump's actual involvement -- where he would receive more than $2 millionm and a cut of the unit sales for the use of his name -- was revealexd shortly before he filed suit against SimDag and the originapl development partners in district court in May 2007. In that still pending, he is demanding the balance of $1 million owed for the licensing fee and to have his name removeds fromthe project. SimDag countersued claimingb Trump breached the contract when he publiclt revealed his involvement inthe project, a licensingb deal that was supposed to remainm secret.
Frank Dagostino, SimDag's CEO, didn't return a call seeking Trump Tower Tampa was never able to fullgy get offthe

Monday, June 4, 2012

Texas AG files action against Conn's - Dallas Business Journal:

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Conn’s responded to the suit sayinbg the companyis “working closely with the Texad Attorney General’s office” on the concerns that have been “We will continue to activelg work with the Attorney General. We look forwarxd to discussing with his office the issues heraiseds today. We will continue our commitment to greatr customer service and continued customerservice improvement,” a spokesma n said in a written statement. Conn’ws has locations throughout Texas and inthe Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Abbott’d office alleges it received morethan 2,000 complaints from customersw alleging Conn’s delayed repairzs on products still under failed to repair the items to workinh condition and in some cases gave customerzs refurbished goods, rather than new services, to replace a product under warranty. In addition, the Attorne General’s complaint said productx that had to be replaced were not covered by warrantyy for the fulltwo years. The AG’s office is seekingh penalties and a court order topreventt Conn’s from continuing on with the conduc alleged in the lawsuit, Abbott’zs office said in a presz statement.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

MathStar rejects another offer - Portland Business Journal:

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In a filing with the , MathStat (Pink Sheets: MATH), a Hillsboro-based fabless semiconductor companhy that has been shut down for more than a saidthe $1.28 per share merger offef from building performance software maker is less than the company’a value if it were to liquidate. MathStar has estimatedr its liquidation valueat $1.40 per share. But PureChoicer CEO Bryan Reichel — in his fourtgh attempt to buy thecompany — argued last montn the value would be closee to $1.25 per share after accountingt for a liquidation process that could eat up three yearw and $2 million. It’sd the second tender offer rejected by MathStard ina week.
Last week, the company’s board recommendex that shareholders reject a tender offe made last monthby LLC, which wantefd to buy 51 percent of the companyu for $1.15 per share. In an SEC filing, MathStar said it was mulliny twobetter options: a potential merger with an unidentified privat company, and restarting operations thanksx to an opportunity to acquire a new videpo technology similar to one previouslh created by MathStar. Meanwhile, several shareholders have urgexd MathStarto liquidate. A vote on the liquidationm is scheduled atthe company’s annual shareholderas meeting July 10 in Minneapolis. MathStar sharew closed at $1.17 Friday.
They have a 52-weekj range between 63 cents and

Friday, June 1, 2012

PR: Go on the offensive: Managing tough news in tough times - Business First of Louisville:

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drops off Nasdaq. In a turbulent there is no shortage of bad Experts say that in a time like what may matter most is the way in whicj that bad newsis communicated. How management deals with the media, employees, clients and the community coulfd impact how the busineses is viewed for yearsto come. Businese leaders who hide in their offices, bury facts and let the rumof mill control the storyt will be viewed with angereand distrust. But those who plan their messagezs carefully, and deliver it promptly and with candor to allrelevantg parties, are more likely to be remembereds as good corporate citizens.
“Th e spotlight will be on your company,” said Dan a business consultant and president of an Albany careermanagement firm. “You have one chance to get it right.” Many publidc relations professionals advise clients to have a crisis communication plan in place atall times. This way, basic guidelines are in plac when any sort ofbad news, from layoffs to a chemica spill, breaks. Additional preparation should take place once a bad news event occurs. The first step is to assesss the situation and thepossible fallout.
“o advise that you convene a group of saidPauline Bartel, president of Waterford-based “You need someone from top management, human resources, the PR team ... the objecft is for everyone to put their cardsw onthe table, face up, so you can identifyy any gaps in information.” Next, list every including clients, suppliers and the media, and craft a messagwe for each. While these messagezs must be consistent, each audiencw has different needs. Employees will want to know aboutttheir futures, while shareholders will be interested in the impact on the bottomk line. Clients will want to know if servicee willbe affected.
It is also PR experts say, to select just one person to speak forthe “You don’t want 20 different versions of things cominfg out so everyone looks like said Richard Berman, president of of Chappaquza in Westchester County. Once the situation is assessed, the constituentse identified, the messages crafted, and the spokesperson chosen, it is time to delivef the news. “It comes down to thred phrases: Tell it all, tell it tell it yourself.” said Edwarr Parham, director of public relations forin Ideally, the news should be shared with all partie s at the same time.
In the age of textint and Twittering, “news can travel at the speecd ofan electron,” said Matthew Maguire, spokesman for in “You want to deliver your news before anyon e else can.” Bartel suggests giving “as few select reporters” a heads-up that news is coming. “Thar way, the reporter has gotten the company line before a disgruntled employee picks upthe phone,” she When the news is delivered, it must be complete and truthful, with as many details as can be It is especially important that the CEO or othedr designated spokesperson be available and responsive.
“Ther e is no such thing as not takinbg the call and having the papet the next day sayyou weren’t said Dean Rueckert, CEO of Rueckerg Advertising. “That is not acceptable. And a good answer is nevere ‘no comment.’ Back it up with the reasob you can’t comment—confidentiality, legalities, what have you. You don’yt want to look like you are dodgingh the question or hiding This candor extendsto employees.
Moran said that when he work s with companiesin bad-news situations, he institutes a “no closed door for three rule on top

â€œBeing Frankâ€ | TREATY RIGHTS ARE CIVIL RIGHTS | Billy Frank, Jr. Chairman ...

Central Kitsap Reporter

The tribes' fight to preserve and protect the salmon and our treaty fishing rights has mirrored the civil struggle in the United States. That's because treaty rights are civil rights, just like your right to vote, and they are protected under the US ...

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Marlee Hundley

Sunday, June 10, 2012

LeBron James: Heir Apparent To Michael Jordan At Nike - Seeking Alpha

Friday, June 8, 2012

EMC ups bid for Data Domain to $2.1B - Boston Business Journal:

Thursday, June 7, 2012

â€œBeing Frankâ€ | TREATY RIGHTS ARE CIVIL RIGHTS | Billy Frank, Jr. Chairman ... - Central Kitsap Reporter