Yikes!!! maybe "Wes the Cat"

I just had a buzz around Starlink Productions’ web site http://www.starlinkproductions.com and it's hard to believe you'd send these guys a “stamp” let alone real money... where was the due diligence?  My guess is the legal bill to try and recover these funds will be outrageous and the likelihood of getting anything back will be negligible so maybe Justice Douglas could send “Wes the Cat” up to Credit Union place to put on a show as part of his “community work”....  and although I don’t see Wes in Starlink’s line-up, he does a great “Elvis” impression with the guitar, and he would certainly fit in with all their other acts.... "YIKES"

Summerside suing for concert funds
Published on January 25th, 2011

SUMMERSIDE — The City of Summerside has initiated legal action against a California promoter to recoup $1.3 million, which was advanced to the promoter to bring a major concert to the city.

On Monday, the city was to file a complaint with the United States District Court, Northern District of California, San Jose Division, for fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, negligent misrepresentation and rescission (rescinding) of a contract against Katrina Berg Sussmeier and Starlink Productions Inc.

In the Nature of Action against Sussmeier and Starlink Productions, the city alleges that in July 2009, Sussmeier presented the city with the opportunity to hold the Michael Jackson Tribute Concert featuring performances by Beyonce, Usher, Ne-Yo and Leona Lewis.

“In July and August 2009, Sussmeier pressured representatives of the city to act immediately to book the concert and represented that she and Starlink had the authority to arrange for such a mega-concert,” the Notice of Action claims.

The city entered an agreement with Sussmeier on July 24, 2009. In late July, Sussmeier emailed the city demanding an immediate wire payment of $650,000 so Beyonce’s appearance at the concert could be guaranteed.

“You’ll have Justin Timberlake, Ne-Yo, Usher, Beyonce if we get that wire,” she stated in an email to J.P. Desrosier, events and program development officer with the city.

The city sent the money and, in September, entered into a Deal Memorandum and Binder Agreement claiming Starlink was providing the services of artists arranging the Michael Jackson Tribute Show.

According to the city’s suit, “Sussmeier personally signed the memorandum on behalf of both Starlink and the purported artists who would appear at the concert.”

The court papers allege Sussmeier told the city she was working to produce the tribute show with Frank DiLeo, DLM Management Group/DiLeo Entertainment &Touring Inc. (DLM), who once was Michael Jackson’s personal manager.

Sussmeier told the city’s representatives that entities controlled by DLM and Mark Lamicka and Quincy Krashna, acting as agents for DLM, were arranging for the production of the concert.

Papers to be filed with the court claim that between October 2009 and March 2010, Sussmeier repeatedly assured the city the tribute concert was moving forward as scheduled.

By early March 2010, Sussmeier is alleged to have informed city officials that despite the agreement entered into in September requesting the $650,000, “in order to assure Beyonce’s appearance at the concert, the city would need to make a second payment of $650,000 and sign an amended Deal Memo and Binder Agreement.”

According to the complaint filed by the City of Summerside, Sussmeier told city officials that “Beyonce is waiting for your offer with deposit but won’t be waiting long,” and that she could “absolutely confirm” that other acts were solid.

On March 10, the city wired a second $650,000 deposit to Starlink.

The city’s Notice of Action claims the Michael Jackson Tribute Show was “from start to finish an elaborate fraud ... no such concert existed.”

“On information and belief, the artists whom Sussmeier falsely represented would appear at the Tribute Show, including Beyonce, Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas, Ne-Yo and Leona Lewis (Timberlake had exited the concert plans earlier), had not agreed or ever committed to appear at any concert in Prince Edward Island in the summer of 2010.

“Moreover, on information and belief, the purported organizers of the concert had never obtained permission from the Michael Jackson estate or Jackson family to organize a tribute show for Michael Jackson in Summerside or elsewhere,” stated the city’s papers.

The action goes on to state, “Neither Beyonce nor any of her agents or representatives had ever sought the two payments of $650,000 that Sussmeier told the city would confirm and guarantee Beyonce’s appearance at the concert.”

The action further claims Beyonce’s management, on April 21, 2010, when first presented with the idea of performing in Summerside, rejected the idea.

“When Sussmeier in July 2009 and March 2010 induced payments of $650,000 from the city to confirm Beyonce’s appearance at a concert in Prince Edward Island, Beyonce had never even received a proposal for such a concert much less requested that the city or anyone else pay a deposit to secure such a concert.”

None of the city’s allegations have been proven in court.

Summerside Chief Administrative Officer Terry Murphy said the city had dealt successfully with Sussmeier’s company in promoting the John Fogerty concert in 2009 and trusted the promoter could deliver the promised concert in 2010.

“Unfortunately, the city was badly let down as the promoters did not deliver on the major concert as promised.”