Petition supporters file motions to dismiss PPE Casino’s “baseless” lawsuit
Annapolis, Maryland (March 16, 2010) – Today, the “Stop Slots at Arundel Mills” coalition, Rob Annicelli, the “Citizens Against Slots at the Mall” coalition, Heather Ford, the Maryland Jockey Club and FieldWorks, LLC announced they have filed motions in the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court to intervene in PPE Casino Resorts Maryland, LLC, et al. v. Anne Arundel County Board of Supervisors of Elections.
Separately, an “anti-SLAPP” motion was filed against PPE Casino Resorts Maryland, LLC for violating the Maryland SLAPP suit statute, Md. Cts. & Judg. Proc. art. §5-807 Code Ann. That statute prohibits meritless suits brought by large private interests, often real estate developers, to deter ordinary citizens from exercising their political or legal rights. SLAPP suits target people for, among other things, circulating petitions for signature and participating in referendum drives. Counterclaims for other legal violations will likely be filed against PPE Casino Resorts Maryland, LLC.
“As we have said all along, PPE Casino’s lawsuit is entirely baseless. It’s no more than a desperate attempt to prevent the will of the people from being exercised at the ballot box,” said Rob Annicelli, president of the citizens group, “Stop Slots at Arundel Mills.” “Their attempt to use the courts to scare us off won’t work. That’s just what the anti-SLAPP suit laws are all about.”
“What really galls me is that over 21,000 signatures have been approved and verified by the County Board of Elections, yet PPE Casino challenges less than two dozen of those signatures and claims that there has been massive fraud. PPE Casino has produced no evidence to support that claim,” said Heather Ford, coalition coordinator for “Citizens Against Slots at the Mall.”
According to Steven Rabinowitz, FieldWorks’ spokesperson, “The signature gathering work performed by FieldWorks for this petition drive was conducted not only in full compliance with all legal requirements, but in accordance with the highest standards of quality and integrity, the high standards for which FieldWorks is known.”
Tom Chuckas, president of the Maryland Jockey Club stated: “We are pleased to have been part of this important County-wide petition gathering coalition. Contrary to PPE Casino’s assertions, the Maryland Jockey Club’s participation and funding contributions with regard to this effort have been publicly disclosed from the outset and are completely lawful.”
According to Alan M. Rifkin, Esq., Rifkin, Livingston, Levitan & Silver, LLC, lead counsel for Citizens Against Slots at the Mall, Heather Ford, Stop Slots at Arundel Mills, Rob Annicelli and the Maryland Jockey Club, “The motions speak for themselves. PPE’s meritless allegations against my clients will be exposed at trial.” Bruce Marcus, Esq. of Marcus & Bonsib is co-counsel to the interveners.
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