Players International Sued in Confidentiality Case

Players International Inc. in Calabasas has been sued for alleged breach of contract by an Encino company that makes credit card cash advance products.

In a lawsuit filed last week in federal court in Los Angeles, Synapsis Corp. Ltd. said it met with Players in June, 1991, to discuss the possibility of Players marketing Synapsis’ cash advance products. Synapsis said that Players signed a confidentiality agreement before the meeting but then breached the agreement by handing over proprietary Synapsis information to a Synapsis rival, Comdata Holdings.

Players, which markets travel packages for gambling resorts, has an exclusive marketing agreement for Comdata’s cash advance system.

The suit also names Brentwood, Tenn.-based Comdata as a defendant, alleging that Comdata engaged in restraint of trade by using private investigators and electronic surveillance to spy on Synapsis, and slandered Synapsis by publicly stating that Synapsis is a front for the federal government.

Synapsis said that Comdata has filed a federal racketeering suit against it. Synapsis said the suit is meritless.

The Synapsis suit seeks unspecified damages in excess of $1 million. Harvey Goldberg, Players’ chief financial officer, said the company had not yet seen the Synapsis suit but that the action is “without merit and frivolous.”