After the New York City Business Integrity Commission (BIC) denied R & S Circus Products' application to register as a wholesale business at Hunt's Point, the company sued to annul the agency's determination.
BIC rejected the application after it learned that Circus's CEO, Silvestro LoVerde, was supposedly associated with a known mob member.
LoVerde claimed he had no idea his friend was "connected," but BIC was unpersuaded. After all, LoVerde had been in business with the guy for five years, vacationed with him, and even attended his wedding.
After the New York County Supreme Court dismissed Circus's case, the company appealed, but the Appellate Division, First Department, decided this was an offer it could refuse--particularly since BIC's decision wasn't "arbitrary and capricious or an abuse of discretion."
There was no clowning around there.
To view a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: Matter of R & S Circus Prods. Corp. v. Business Integrity Commn. of the City of New York