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Rapidz owners sue Can-Am Association, alleging they were driven out of circuit

The former owners of the Ottawa Rapidz are suing the Can-Am Association for forcing them out of the circuit and not allowing them to walk away from the league, among other things.The former owners of the Ottawa Rapidz are suing the independent Can-Am Association for forcing them out of the circuit and not allowing them to walk away from the league, among other things.

In Civil File #43848-09, filed on January 26, 2009 in Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice, the owners of Momentus.ca (the partial owners of the Rapidz franchise) claim, among other things, that they were forced from the league last September after being barred from voluntarily withdrawing from the league, that the league unlawfully dipped into the team’s Letter of Credit to pay $108,000 in guaranteed rent to the city of Ottawa, and that the league forced the Rapidz out of Ottawa Stadium. By forcing the Rapidz out of the ballpark lease, the league therefore prevented Momentus.ca from ever making back their C$1.4 million in losses on the franchise — losses the franchise owners claimed were far in excess of what the league predicted in first-year losses. In addition, the group is claiming the Can-Am Association unlawfully filed trademark protection for the former Rapidz marks (you can see the filing here — application 1425232 — and decide for yourself), although it appears the Can-Am folks voluntarily walked away from the Rapids/Rapides marks. Since then, the Can-Am Association has announced the team would be called the Voyageurs.

We’ve obtained a copy of the lawsuit; it’s attached to this article as a PDF (click on DOWNLOAD ATTACHMENT).

Remember that the filing from Momentus.ca is merely one side of the argument and doesn’t yet carry any legal weight. They’re allegations, as yet unheard before a judge. Take them for what they’re worth: allegations.

Nothing will happen any time soon; according to a civil court clerk the two parties have been ordered into mandatory mediation, which is currently scheduled for July 8, 2009.

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