(Catherine Kozak, a former reporter for The Virginian-Pilot in the Nags Head office, is now a freelance writer for The Island Free Press and other publications.)
BY CATHERINE KOZAK
BY CATHERINE KOZAK
The fight over winnings in last month’s 2010 Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament continues after attorneys and representatives of the disqualified boat owners and the tournament locked horns and didn’t budge during an informal meeting this week.
The fight over winnings in last month’s 2010 Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament continues after attorneys and representatives of the disqualified boat owners and the tournament locked horns and didn’t budge during an informal meeting this week.
In a statement issued Friday by the tournament, Brad Evans, attorney for the Crystal Coast Tournament Inc., said that its board of directors remains “firm in its decision to disqualify the marlin caught by the Citation based on violation of tournament rules.”
In a statement issued Friday by the tournament, Brad Evans, attorney for the Crystal Coast Tournament Inc., said that its board of directors remains “firm in its decision to disqualify the marlin caught by the Citation based on violation of tournament rules.”
The Citation, which hails from Hatteras, was stripped of its claim to more than $1 million for catching a record 883-pound marlin because a mate lacked a valid fishing license at the time the big fish was hooked.
The Citation, which hails from Hatteras, was stripped of its claim to more than $1 million for catching a record 883-pound marlin because a mate lacked a valid fishing license at the time the big fish was hooked.
Owners for the vessel contend that a license was not required then because the vessel was in international waters, and they filed a lawsuit on July 1. The tournament answered the claim in Dare County on July 19.
Owners for the vessel contend that a license was not required then because the vessel was in international waters, and they filed a lawsuit on July 1. The tournament answered the claim in Dare County on July 19.
At the meeting in Morehead City on Tuesday, July 20, the tournament statement said, an opportunity was given to the Citation to present its case to the board. But the panel made no reversal of its June 22 decision to disqualify the Hatteras boat and instead award the winnings to the second place vessel, the Carnivore.
At the meeting in Morehead City on Tuesday, July 20, the tournament statement said, an opportunity was given to the Citation to present its case to the board. But the panel made no reversal of its June 22 decision to disqualify the Hatteras boat and instead award the winnings to the second place vessel, the Carnivore.
“The litigation essentially continues,” Evans said on Friday. “The board made up its mind and has not changed its position.”
“The litigation essentially continues,” Evans said on Friday. “The board made up its mind and has not changed its position.”
After learning of the press release, Andy Gay, the Citation’s attorney, said late Friday afternoon that the tournament is in breach of an agreement reached at the meeting to not make statements about the case until all the parties had been joined in the lawsuit and had a chance to review the documents.
After learning of the press release, Andy Gay, the Citation’s attorney, said late Friday afternoon that the tournament is in breach of an agreement reached at the meeting to not make statements about the case until all the parties had been joined in the lawsuit and had a chance to review the documents.
“It’s the biggest amount of grandstanding I’ve ever seen in my life,” Gay said. “I’ll see them in court.”
“It’s the biggest amount of grandstanding I’ve ever seen in my life,” Gay said. “I’ll see them in court.”
Gay said that the hope was that the matter could be resolved quickly, saving everyone legal fees and ill will.
Gay said that the hope was that the matter could be resolved quickly, saving everyone legal fees and ill will.
But it appears that the case is destined to move forward with more discovery and depositions. The owners of the Carnivore and the Wet N’ Wild, named the second place winner, will be joined in the lawsuit in the coming days, Gay said. Both owners, he said, have requested mediation.
But it appears that the case is destined to move forward with more discovery and depositions. The owners of the Carnivore and the Wet N’ Wild, named the second place winner, will be joined in the lawsuit in the coming days, Gay said. Both owners, he said, have requested mediation.
“If they are firm in their position, the only place to go is back to court where we started,” he said, referring to the tournament. “May the best man win . . . and the biggest fish.”
“If they are firm in their position, the only place to go is back to court where we started,” he said, referring to the tournament. “May the best man win . . . and the biggest fish.”
(Catherine Kozak, a former reporter for The Virginian-Pilot in the Nags Head office, is now a freelance writer for The Island Free Press and other publications.)
(Catherine Kozak, a former reporter for The Virginian-Pilot in the Nags Head office, is now a freelance writer for The Island Free Press and other publications.)
