‘Monster Truck Mayhem’ Was Just That

OKLAHOMA CITY (CN) - Casino Entertainment claims the men it hired to provide entertainment at its "Monster Truck Mayhem" event set a pile of junked cars on fire, filling the entire Choctaw Coliseum with noxious smoke, "causing immediate evacuation of the premises by the several thousand spectators."

The show was canceled and "spectators suffered smoke inhalation which required medical treatment and in some cases hospitalization," Casino claims in Federal Court.

Casino sued Shawn Ives dba SWI Productions, of Georgia; Paul Stender dba Maximum Marketing, of Indiana; and Tom Craze, residency unknown.

Casino claims that Ives "instructed defendant driver 'Tom Craze' to 'Light Up' the junk cars in the middle of the arena with flames from his Jet Bike" during the Oct. 20, 2007 event.

"Defendant Craze, negligently and without thought for safety for the public spectators did intentionally engulf the cars in the middle of the arena with extreme heat and fire from the exhaust of his Jet Bike, igniting all cars present," the complaint states. "The fire immediately created rolling clouds of black, noxious smoke which filled the Coliseum, causing immediate evacuation of the premises by the several thousand spectators. As a result of the gross negligence of the Defendants, the event was halted and spectators suffered smoke inhalation which required medical treatment and in some cases hospitalization.

"As a result Defendant's failure to complete their contract, Plaintiff lost $22,500.00 as a result of cancellation of their contract with the Choctaw Coliseum; $35,000.00 in refund of tickets; and $119,000.00 in future contracts with the facility. Therefore, Plaintiff requests a total award of $176,000.00 for actual and consequential damages resulting from the Defendant's breach of contract."

Casino Entertainment also demands $1.3 million in punitive damages for injury to its reputation. It is represented by Larry Stewart of Norman, Okla.

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