RENO, Nev., March 2 -- GameTech International, Inc., a leading supplier of
electronic bingo equipment, announced today that a jury has ruled in favor of
the Company in its claims against a former distributor, Trend Gaming LLC,
Kentucky limited liability company and its manager, Steven Hieronymus. The
lawsuit, which was tried in the United States District Court, District of
Arizona, involved a contract between GameTech and Trend concerning Kentucky
and Virginia. The jury's unanimous verdict, which came after five hours of
deliberation, amounted to $1.425 million in compensatory damages against
Trend, of which up to $881,000 may be collected against Hieronymus personally.
In addition, the jury awarded $150,000 in punitive damages against each
defendant for total damages of $1.725 million. The final award is subject to
approval of the Court and entry of judgment. According to GameTech officials,
the Company will now petition the Court for injunctive relief and an award
against the defendants of the Company's legal fees and costs.
"We are gratified and vindicated by the jury's verdict," said Clarence
Thiesen, GameTech's CEO. "This decision confirms our position that Trend and
Mr. Hieronymus interfered with GameTech's relationships with customers in a
manner that clearly breached our contract. Further, the jury found the
defendants' acts egregious and granted punitive damages against Trend and
Hieronymus, personally."
According to GameTech's attorney, E. Jeffrey Walsh of Greenberg Traurig, the
jury found in favor of GameTech on four claims: contract damages, good faith
and fair dealing, tortious interference and charging excess fees and
commissions, while denying all counterclaims brought by the defendant. "This
verdict comes on the heels of an earlier decision in federal court in Virginia
against Trend's agent, Charles Delaney, dealing with similar facts," said
Walsh. "The Court in Virginia awarded $900,000 in damages and injunctive
relief against Delaney in that case. GameTech holds its distributors in high
regard and finds it troubling to pursue such claims; however, in this case,
Trend and Hieronymus were brazen in their disregard of the contract and their
fiduciary responsibility to GameTech."
GameTech International, Inc. is a leading supplier of a comprehensive line of
electronic bingo equipment, including hand-held bingo units, fixed base units
and turnkey accounting and management software. The Company supports its
customers with products that increase play, revenues and profits, and software
customized to enhance management and operations, all backed by unparalleled
customer service.
Certain statements contained in this document may be deemed to be forward-
looking statements under federal securities laws, and GameTech intended that
such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor created thereby.
Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to the amount of
the final judgment and the Company's ability to collect such amount.
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Source: GameTech International, Inc.