Market vendors threaten city of Roanoke with lawsuit

By Lindsey Ward

Published: October 14, 2008

Market vendors say the city of Roanoke needs to pay-up or they’re filing suit.

At an press conference Tuesday afternoon, 9 of the 10 vendors appeared with their legal team, breaking the news about their potential lawsuit.
   
They’re asking the city to compensate them for lost profits and pay for the recent clean-up.
   
If the two parties don’t reach an agreement in the next 30 days, the vendors say legal action will go forward.

“We think that the lost damages have been significant for these businesses, they were shut down for a number of days and then also there’s been a lessening of their profits since they’ve been back open, so we’re going to examine all those issues and hope to negotiate with the city,” said John Fishwick, the vendor’s attorney.
   
Vendor’s estimate business has been down by 40 to 60 percent since they re-opened.
   
The one vendor not present at Tuesday’s announcement is Tavern on the Market, they aren’t threatening suit.