SUMMERSIDE — Summerside taxpayers should not expect to see any of the $1.3 million paid to a California promoter for the failed Michael Jackson Tribute Tour.
In July of 2009, the city sent a payment of $650,000 to promoter Katrina Sussmeier of Starlink Productions. A second $650,000 payment was made in March of 2010 for the tour.
The concert never materialized and the money remains in California.
Councillor Peter Holman said while the city is still in U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif., there’s little hope of seeing any money recouped.
“It is highly unlikely that we’re going to recover any monies, and the reason being is Katrina Sussmeir has filed bankruptcy,” Holman said.
Other players in the concert was Frank DiLeo of DLM Management Group/DiLeo Entertainment and Touring Inc. and his affiliates Mark Lamicka and Quincy Krashna. They were named as co-conspirators with Sussmeier in the city’s lawsuit.
But Holman said there is little chance of getting any payback from these individuals as well.
“Frank DiLeo has passed away,” Holman said.
“Krashna and the other individual (Lamicka) cannot be located and we believe they would not have any assets that we would be able to attach to. We have been successful that now we’ve been able to register judgment against Sussmeier and the two other individuals involved (Krashna and Lamicka). The judgments work somewhat differently in the U.S. in that there is some administrative stuff that has to occur first. Once that occurs then the judgments are going to be registered. In regards to Sussmeier, the judgment does withstand the bankruptcy because it is for fraud.”
“It is highly unlikely that we’re going to recover any monies, and the reason being is Katrina Sussmeir has filed bankruptcy,” - Councillor Peter Holman
Holman said that doesn’t ensure the city will see any return on its deposit and there is little chance the city can recoup any of its losses from the estate of DiLeo.
“That doesn’t necessarily get you any money,” he said.
“It’s the same with the DiLeo estate. There are no assets. However, should there ever become any and we are aware of that then we would certainly go after that. But, at this point in time, it’s highly unlikely that we’re going to recover anything. Legally, we’ve done all that we could possibly do to try and get our money back.”
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