Strates Shows, Inc. v. Amusements of America, Inc.

JACKSON, Judge.

Strates Shows, Inc. (“Strates”), a Florida-based family business, performed the contract for provision of the midway at the annual North Carolina State Fair uninterrupted for more than fifty years. In 1999, Jim Graham, the long-time Commissioner of Agriculture, announced that he would not seek re-election for the 2000-2004 term. At some point after Commissioner Graham’s announcement, defendant Amusements of America (“AOA”), a New Jersey based midway operator, including its principals, the individual Vivona family defendants (“Vivonas”), initiated a conspiracy with a long-time…