Palmer, Picknelly casino feud continues
Published : Monday, 21 Jan 2013, 9:40 AM EST
PALMER, Mass. (WWLP) - The 22News I-Team discovered that the controversy surrounding Peter Picknelly's interest in two casinos is still hotly contested. A lawyer for Northeast Realty, which owns the land in Palmer where Mohegan Sun wants to build a casino says Picknelly and/or Penn National Gaming are not telling the whole truth regarding Picknelly's stake with the Northeast Gaming Group. They dispute the timeline of when Picknelly attempted to get his money out of the Northeast Gaming Group.
The Northeast Gaming Group saw something Penn National's Senior Vice President of Public Relations Eric Schippers said in a live chat on Masslive (Penn National Gaming and Masslive's parent company have a deal in place worth millions of dollars if Penn National is awarded the casino license) and are saying it is not accurate and they are providing the 22News I-Team with the documents to prove it.
In the live chat Schippers, responding to a question about Peter Picknelly's role in Palmer said, "We have thoroughly reviewed the claim and we view it as completely without merit. Our partner Peter Picknelly is 100% committed to Springfield, and cut any ties to Palmer long before we even arrived in Springfield. In my opinion, this amounts to a PR ploy to try to get the Palmer applicants back in the spotlight since so much attention has been paid to Springfield. We're confident this frivolous claim will have zero effect on our exciting plans for Hollywood Casino Springfield."
The portion in bold and that timeline is what Northeast Realty is disputing: In a statement sent to the 22News I-Team it reads:
According to Stephen Spelman, of Egan, Flanagan and Cohen P.C., attorney for Northeast Realty, owners of the property that would host the Mohegan Sun resort in Palmer, “The notion that Mr. Picknelly has cut ties to Palmer defies belief when in fact he has simply attempted to transfer his interest to a close business associate, Mr. Malcolm C. Getz, Jr. Mr. Picknelly has close ties to Mr. Getz through his longtime business relationship with him.” Mr. Getz has served as a senior executive at the Picknelly-owned gun distribution company Camfour, located in Westfield.
Spelman noted that Penn announced in a press release on October 11, 2012, “Penn National is working in partnership with Peter Picknelly.”
Spelman said, however, “Northeast was provided with a document dated November 1, 2012 that was a purported assignment of Mr. Picknelly’s shares in the Palmer project to Mr. Getz.
“Mr. Picknelly would like the public to believe that he has cut all ties with the Palmer project by attempting to assign his shares to a close associate. Mr. Schippers would like the public to believe that Mr. Picknelly cut those ties in advance of his partnership with Penn. Their own documents show these assertions are not true.
Spelman adds that legal action may be necessary. Earlier this month, Picknelly sent 22News this statement:
Statement from Peter Picknelly:
“Long before the legislature passed legislation, I did explore an opportunity with Northeast Gaming Group, as did many others. However, when the situation changed, I exercised my right to leave the project. I understand the transformational impact a casino could have on the city that I call home, and where my family has located our business for the past 80 years, and so I wanted to focus my efforts on Springfield.
The facts in this matter are simple. I was only an investor in the Palmer deal. I was never any type of partner or principal in the project nor did I take part in any of their planning. The contract I signed doesn’t contain a single word that limits my participation in other business ventures, gaming or otherwise. In any case, and to further ease any concerns, I have since formally terminated my relationship with Northeast Gaming Group and, have transferred any financial interest arising from my investment to a third party.
The legal assertions being made by Northeast Gaming Group are completely frivolous and smack of desperation. These claims are being made by an operator that is on the outside looking in, and whose primary objective is to protect their declining operations in Connecticut by preventing Springfield from hosting a successful casino. Their allegations should be viewed in that context."
http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/hampden/palmer-picknelly-casino-feud-continues
Casino controversy lingers in Palmer
Published : Monday, 21 Jan 2013, 6:02 PM EST
The Northeast Gaming Group saw something Penn National's Senior Vice President of Public Relations Eric Schippers said in a live chat on Masslive (Penn National Gaming and Masslive's parent company have a deal in place worth millions of dollars if Penn National is awarded the casino license) and are saying it is not accurate and they are providing the 22News I-Team with the documents to prove it.
In the live chat Schippers, responding to a question about Peter Picknelly's role in Palmer said, "We have thoroughly reviewed the claim and we view it as completely without merit. Our partner Peter Picknelly is 100% committed to Springfield, and cut any ties to Palmer long before we even arrived in Springfield. In my opinion, this amounts to a PR ploy to try to get the Palmer applicants back in the spotlight since so much attention has been paid to Springfield. We're confident this frivolous claim will have zero effect on our exciting plans for Hollywood Casino Springfield."
The portion in bold and that timeline is what Northeast Realty is disputing: In a statement sent to the 22News I-Team it reads:
According to Stephen Spelman, of Egan, Flanagan and Cohen P.C., attorney for Northeast Realty, owners of the property that would host the Mohegan Sun resort in Palmer, “The notion that Mr. Picknelly has cut ties to Palmer defies belief when in fact he has simply attempted to transfer his interest to a close business associate, Mr. Malcolm C. Getz, Jr. Mr. Picknelly has close ties to Mr. Getz through his longtime business relationship with him.” Mr. Getz has served as a senior executive at the Picknelly-owned gun distribution company Camfour, located in Westfield.
Spelman noted that Penn announced in a press release on October 11, 2012, “Penn National is working in partnership with Peter Picknelly.”
Spelman said, however, “Northeast was provided with a document dated November 1, 2012 that was a purported assignment of Mr. Picknelly’s shares in the Palmer project to Mr. Getz.
“Mr. Picknelly would like the public to believe that he has cut all ties with the Palmer project by attempting to assign his shares to a close associate. Mr. Schippers would like the public to believe that Mr. Picknelly cut those ties in advance of his partnership with Penn. Their own documents show these assertions are not true.
Spelman adds that legal action may be necessary. Earlier this month, Picknelly sent 22News this statement:
Statement from Peter Picknelly:
“Long before the legislature passed legislation, I did explore an opportunity with Northeast Gaming Group, as did many others. However, when the situation changed, I exercised my right to leave the project. I understand the transformational impact a casino could have on the city that I call home, and where my family has located our business for the past 80 years, and so I wanted to focus my efforts on Springfield.
The facts in this matter are simple. I was only an investor in the Palmer deal. I was never any type of partner or principal in the project nor did I take part in any of their planning. The contract I signed doesn’t contain a single word that limits my participation in other business ventures, gaming or otherwise. In any case, and to further ease any concerns, I have since formally terminated my relationship with Northeast Gaming Group and, have transferred any financial interest arising from my investment to a third party.
The legal assertions being made by Northeast Gaming Group are completely frivolous and smack of desperation. These claims are being made by an operator that is on the outside looking in, and whose primary objective is to protect their declining operations in Connecticut by preventing Springfield from hosting a successful casino. Their allegations should be viewed in that context."
http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/hampden/palmer-picknelly-casino-feud-continues
Casino controversy lingers in Palmer
Picknelly, Palmer group dispute ongoing
Published : Monday, 21 Jan 2013, 6:02 PM EST
PALMER, Mass. (WWLP) - The casino controversy continues between Penn National Gaming's partner in Springfield and his former partners in Palmer.
The 22News I-Team has obtained new information.
Peter Picknelly is a partner with Penn National in Springfield's North End. They partnered this summer.
In 2008, Picknelly invested $500,000 with Northeast Realty, the group that owns the land in Palmer where Mohegan Sun wants to build a casino. This past July (2012), Picknelly asked for his money back; that request was denied. The lawyer for the group in Palmer told 22News when Picknelly partnered with Penn National he was still invested in Palmer and is still tied to that money today.
"His own documents show he was under revenue sharing as he was being promoted by penn national
as their 50-50 joint venture partner", says Attorney Stephen Spelman of Egan, Flanagan and Cohen, P.C.
Picknelly's lawyer is Paul Maleck of Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury & Murphy, P.C.
"In 2011 he (Peter Picknelly) verbally told Leon Dragone that he is no longer interested in staying in Palmer and he was going to pursue his own casino", says Maleck.
Dragone is a partner with Northeast Realty. In November 2012, documents show Picknelly transferred that $500,000 to a longtime business associate, Malcolm Getz, to try and free himself from the Palmer casino deal.
"We've gotten a document from Palmer that shows that the attempted transfer to Mr. Getz didn't even happen until November 1st, after Mr. Picknelly has been announced as a joint venture partner with Penn National", says Spelman.
(What does Peter get out of signing over his money to Malcolm?)
"Like I said before Its an extra step that he took to show Northeast Gaming that he has absolutely no rights in Palmer", says Maleck.
22News then asked Maleck if Picknelly could profit off of the transfer of his $500,000 to Getz.
http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/hampden/picknelly-palmer-group-dispute-ongoing
This from WSHM --
Controversy over Peter Picknelly's Palmer casino dealings
Posted: Jan 21, 2013 10:02 PM EST
The 22News I-Team has obtained new information.
Peter Picknelly is a partner with Penn National in Springfield's North End. They partnered this summer.
In 2008, Picknelly invested $500,000 with Northeast Realty, the group that owns the land in Palmer where Mohegan Sun wants to build a casino. This past July (2012), Picknelly asked for his money back; that request was denied. The lawyer for the group in Palmer told 22News when Picknelly partnered with Penn National he was still invested in Palmer and is still tied to that money today.
"His own documents show he was under revenue sharing as he was being promoted by penn national
as their 50-50 joint venture partner", says Attorney Stephen Spelman of Egan, Flanagan and Cohen, P.C.
Picknelly's lawyer is Paul Maleck of Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury & Murphy, P.C.
"In 2011 he (Peter Picknelly) verbally told Leon Dragone that he is no longer interested in staying in Palmer and he was going to pursue his own casino", says Maleck.
Dragone is a partner with Northeast Realty. In November 2012, documents show Picknelly transferred that $500,000 to a longtime business associate, Malcolm Getz, to try and free himself from the Palmer casino deal.
"We've gotten a document from Palmer that shows that the attempted transfer to Mr. Getz didn't even happen until November 1st, after Mr. Picknelly has been announced as a joint venture partner with Penn National", says Spelman.
(What does Peter get out of signing over his money to Malcolm?)
"Like I said before Its an extra step that he took to show Northeast Gaming that he has absolutely no rights in Palmer", says Maleck.
22News then asked Maleck if Picknelly could profit off of the transfer of his $500,000 to Getz.
http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/hampden/picknelly-palmer-group-dispute-ongoing
This from WSHM --
Controversy over Peter Picknelly's Palmer casino dealings
Posted: Jan 21, 2013 10:02 PM EST
SPRINGFIELD, MA (WSHM) - Springfield businessman Peter Picknelly may be in the middle of a controversy surrounding two casino developers.
Northeast Realty, the owners of the Mohegan Sun Palmer property, say that in 2008, Picknelly became an investor in their project.
Picknelly's attorneys say that he transferred his involvement to a business associate. Now it is stirring controversy on both sides.
"Peter has nothing to do with Palmer," said Picknelly's attorney, Paul Maleck.
Maleck says that a 2008 agreement made with Northeast Realty as an investor is no longer valid after Picknelly reportedly "cut ties" with the group and pulled out of the project not long after joining forces with Penn National Gaming in Springfield.
"Peter had every right to exit, terminate all of his interests, he had signed a revenue sharing agreement where he was going to possibly partake in the revenues," Maleck said.
According to CBS 3 media partner Masslive and The Republican, Picknelly invested $500,000 into the Palmer project nearly five years ago.
On Nov. 1, 2012, Picknelly signed documents transferring his interests to close business associate Malcolm Getz.
But it's the timeline of events that's bothering Northeast Realty.
Reps for the group say that claims made by Picknelly that he cut ties well before his Penn National partnership are false.
"From their own documents that they provided to us, it shows that it was Nov. 1 after they had announced them as their joint venture partner on Oct.11," said Steve Spelman, attorney for Northeast Realty.
Spelman says that the document is useless and that Picknelly is still on board in Palmer as an investor.
"It is Northeast's position that Mr. Picknelly is a full joint venture partner with Palmer, he has been so under his revenue sharing agreement since Jan. 11, 2008, and his attempt to transfer it to Mr. Malcolm Getz has no force in effect," Spelman said.
Lawyers for Northeast Realty say that they are prepared to take Picknelly to court if he does not acknowledge his partnership in the project.
http://www.cbs3springfield.com/story/20643203/controversy-over-peter-picknellys-palmer-casino-dealings
Northeast Realty, the owners of the Mohegan Sun Palmer property, say that in 2008, Picknelly became an investor in their project.
Picknelly's attorneys say that he transferred his involvement to a business associate. Now it is stirring controversy on both sides.
"Peter has nothing to do with Palmer," said Picknelly's attorney, Paul Maleck.
Maleck says that a 2008 agreement made with Northeast Realty as an investor is no longer valid after Picknelly reportedly "cut ties" with the group and pulled out of the project not long after joining forces with Penn National Gaming in Springfield.
"Peter had every right to exit, terminate all of his interests, he had signed a revenue sharing agreement where he was going to possibly partake in the revenues," Maleck said.
According to CBS 3 media partner Masslive and The Republican, Picknelly invested $500,000 into the Palmer project nearly five years ago.
On Nov. 1, 2012, Picknelly signed documents transferring his interests to close business associate Malcolm Getz.
But it's the timeline of events that's bothering Northeast Realty.
Reps for the group say that claims made by Picknelly that he cut ties well before his Penn National partnership are false.
"From their own documents that they provided to us, it shows that it was Nov. 1 after they had announced them as their joint venture partner on Oct.11," said Steve Spelman, attorney for Northeast Realty.
Spelman says that the document is useless and that Picknelly is still on board in Palmer as an investor.
"It is Northeast's position that Mr. Picknelly is a full joint venture partner with Palmer, he has been so under his revenue sharing agreement since Jan. 11, 2008, and his attempt to transfer it to Mr. Malcolm Getz has no force in effect," Spelman said.
Lawyers for Northeast Realty say that they are prepared to take Picknelly to court if he does not acknowledge his partnership in the project.
http://www.cbs3springfield.com/story/20643203/controversy-over-peter-picknellys-palmer-casino-dealings
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