826 replies to this topic

[Skyliner]

A very interesting twist in ICAR development news.  This just came across WYFF 4's website.  Cliff Rosen, the original developer of the International Center for Automotive Research, is filing a lawsuit against BMW for kicking him out as the park's developer?

READ HERE!

[btoy]

From what I have heard, Tennessee was real close to getting chosen.

[Greenville]

Do you guys think this news will have a negative impact on ICAR in terms of the master plan and the time schedule for the various phases?

[krazeeboi]

Skyliner, on Aug 1 2005, 06:59 PM, said:

A very interesting twist in ICAR development news.  This just came across WYFF 4's website.  Cliff Rosen, the original developer of the International Center for Automotive Research, is filing a lawsuit against BMW for kicking him out as the park's developer?

READ HERE!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hmmm...this article from 2003 may actually shed some light on the current situation.

[JCT]

Sounds like business as usual

I hope this does not affect ICAR or the Millennium Campus, which is the separate adjoining project being developed completely by Rosen

[Spartan]

I have been hearing more and more about this thing. They were talking about it this morning on 950. I think that the wheels have already been set in motion. It can't be stopped, though this lawsuit may cause a bump in BMW's efforts. We already have 3 other big boys who are planning to be a part of the campus.

[tiger96]

Spartan, on Aug 2 2005, 04:35 PM, said:

I have been hearing more and more about this thing. They were talking about it this morning on 950. I think that the wheels have already been set in motion. It can't be stopped, though this lawsuit may cause a bump in BMW's efforts. We already have 3 other big boys who are planning to be a part of the campus.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Has anyone heard anymore about this?  Seems like folks are talking a lot about it, but I haven't seen much in the media?

[Spartan]

I saw it on channel 7 the other day when it was first announced that the lawsuit was going on. It was in the HJ either today or yesterday, but I didn't read the article. It is getting coverage, but nobody is taking it too seriously. The guy who is suing wasn't accomplishing anything before hand, and he didn't have any official contracts or anything. Its all a bunch of BS if you ask me.

[btoy]

I think that this mornings Greenville Journal sheds some good light on the situation.  They have a statement from a past Councilmen that says things happened much like Rosen claims.

[tiger96]

Read the Journal article.  I think this is going to be VERY interesting.  I have a friend in the media who has read the lawsuit and says that it claims "tortuous interference" by BMW - is anyone familiar with that term?

[krazeeboi]

According to the online US Legal Dictionary, "tortious interference" occurs when someone causes harm to another by disrupting something that belongs to the latter. An example is one employer trying to lure the employees of a rival with a systematic effort and only when the intention is to destroy or cripple their employer’s (the rival’s) business. But doing so only to obtain their skills and services with the aim of improving one’s own business is quite legitimate.

[tiger96]

I looked it up too, there are a couple of different variations, I think this one related to contracts is the most relevant to the lawsuit:

The causing of harm or loss  by interfering with a contractual relationship between two parties

Has anyone heard anything new?  It's been pretty quiet this week - the calm before the storm perhaps?

[Spartan]

I'm hoping it will just blow over, or better yet- dissapear.

[Greenville]

I am with you, Spartan!  Hopefully this will quietly go away and not have any negative repercussions on the ICAR plans.

[NYTransplant]

An article in the Greenville news this morning mentions a major American corporation planning to add a research facility to the ICAR campus.  

[GvilleSC]

NYTransplant, on Aug 17 2005, 11:52 AM, said:

An article in the Greenville news this morning mentions a major American corporation planning to add a research facility to the ICAR campus. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Would any of you venture to say that this is the announcement that the city and county were keeping tight fisted? That was a "major" economic news or development...? Hmmm.

[NYTransplant]

GvilleSC, on Aug 17 2005, 12:15 PM, said:

Would any of you venture to say that this is the announcement that the city and county were keeping tight fisted? That was a "major" economic news or development...? Hmmm.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't know about that.  The article says 30 jobs, ramping up to 50-80.  If this is their "Major Economic News", I'd be a bit disappointed.

[GvilleSC]

NYTransplant, on Aug 17 2005, 12:22 PM, said:

I don't know about that.  The article says 30 jobs, ramping up to 50-80.  If this is their "Major Economic News", I'd be a bit disappointed.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's exactly what I was thinking

[Skyliner]

I had thought it would probably be within Millennium Campus, since it involves both City and County councils.  This is very good news and should be high-class jobs.

[vicupstate]

NYTransplant, on Aug 17 2005, 10:22 AM, said:

I don't know about that.  The article says 30 jobs, ramping up to 50-80.  If this is their "Major Economic News", I'd be a bit disappointed.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This surely must be the announcement that the Gville Journal was referring to.  I agree that the number of jobs is a little low to get too excited about, but nevertheless, getting another "pioneer" tenant in ICAR and another "big name" at that is still significant.

Also, remember that these announcements tend to low-ball the eventual employment numbers.  When BMW was first announced, the initial employment number was 400.  Today they employ nearly 5,000.


Stay tuned...