RICHMOND, Va. — A lawsuit surrounding the State Fair of Virginia’s sale three years ago appears to be moving forward. In a hearing last week, a Richmond circuit court judge overruled the objections of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation – the fair’s current owner – and downtown law firm Williams Mullen to a lawsuit filed last November. The suit, filed by New Kent County-based Mini-USA Inc., claims the company was wrongfully thwarted in its attempt to buy the fair in 2012.
Mini-USA claims that the Virginia Farm Bureau conspired with Williams Mullen, which represented Mini-USA in its attempt to buy the fair, in order to grab control of the fair for itself. In its complaint, Mini-USA says the Farm Bureau was also a major client of Williams Mullen.
Both defendants have maintained there was no such conspiracy, arguing that Williams Mullen was acting as an agent on behalf of the Farm Bureau and that a conspiracy requires two parties working in collaboration. In addition to the conspiracy claim, Mini-USA’s suit alleges violations of state trade secret laws and legal malpractice, among other counts.
To continue reading about the State Fair of Virginia lawsuit, click here.
