LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Businesses announce a planned lawsuit against Formula One and Las Vegas-area government agencies after a spokesperson said they exhausted options for a settlement.
FOX5 was the first station to tell you about the seven business’ requests for a “remedy” following more than $20 million in losses due to F1-related road construction, road closures, lane closures and the placement of the temporary Flamingo bridge. The small businesses are located around the intersection of Flamingo Road and Koval Lane.
Business owners and spokesperson Lisa Mayo-DeRiso tell FOX5 that talks and meetings with F1 and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority have stalled in recent days. They announced Monday they are proceeding with litigation to recoup losses.
The suit would name F1, the LVCVA and Clark County, according to business owners. Mayo-deRiso said other businesses have approached her to join a future suit, and the group plans to formally announce their representation soon.
“I think people will see that as an opportunity to try to recoup their losses,” Mayo-DeRiso said. “It’s a public right away. Every single business and so forth had a right to that public right away. It was shut off and taken from you,” she said. Mayo-DeRiso said she would like other impacted businesses or individuals to eventually come forward.
The group also plans a legal fight over the return of the temporary F1 bridge in its prior footprint. The race acknowledged its return, though it did not elaborate on any possible changes to ease concerns. “We are in touch with the businesses near the Flamingo-Koval intersection to listen and understand their concerns, and we will continue to work with them to mitigate impact,” a F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix spokesperson previously said via email.
FOX5 has reached out to F1, the LVCVA and Clark County for comment Monday on the effort to pursue litigation.
A spokesperson with Clark County said they cannot comment due to the threat of litigation, but shed light on future public discussions regarding mitigating the impact of F1 on local businesses and residents.
“There will not be an F1 item on the 3/5 agenda at this time, the County Manager’s public debrief is still planned for the weeks to come,” said spokesperson Jennifer Cooper via email.
A Clark County Commission agenda item for February 20 to discuss F1-related issues and its future was tabled. Chair Tick Segerblom called for the item.
Cooper previously clarified the reasoning for the postponement on February 16.
“The County Manager plans to facilitate a public debrief of the F1 race from the County’s perspective as it relates to the work required by County departments. This discussion will occur in the coming weeks. For this reason, the item noticed for Tuesday’s agenda will instead be included as part of that future discussion,” she said via email. “The County has no contract with F1 or the LVGP. The contract for the F1 race is held by the LVCVA and the LVGP. The Board last year took action to reserve the dates for future F1 races, but this action simply implies the public right of way is reserved for those identified race dates,” she stated.
A follow-up statement on Feb. 21 to media outlets provided more clarity:
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