Chamber, Fireworks Firm Settle Suit

After taking a Utah pyrotechnics firm to court for a fizzled Fourth of July fireworks show in 1992, the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce has agreed to an undisclosed settlement, chamber officials said.

“It was a cash settlement,” said Warren Boehm, a Crescenta Valley chamber board member. “We’re happy with it. We’ve got this behind us now,” he said.

“I think it was a mutually satisfactory settlement for everyone,” said Linda T. Barney, an attorney who represented the fireworks firm.

The money will go toward chamber operations and for attorneys’ fees.

Boehm, who served as chamber president in 1992, declined to elaborate further, citing a confidentiality clause in the out-of-court settlement.

In its lawsuit filed April 7, 1993, the chamber had sought more than $25,000 in actual and punitive damages from Utah-based Lantis Productions Inc. and William A. Lovick, a pyrotechnician with the firm.

Lovick was eventually dismissed from the case by a judge, attorneys said.

Lantis was hired in March, 1992, to stage a fireworks show for the Fourth of July Family Festival of Fun & Fireworks at Crescenta Valley High School.

The firm sent Lovick to set up the pyrotechnics in the afternoon, but he abruptly went home saying he felt ill and needed some rest, the chamber’s attorney, Robert P. Kragulack, had said.

Because he never returned, organizers had to cancel the event and offer refunds to a disappointed crowd of more than 5,000.

It was later learned that Lovick was also setting up a show for the same day at Saugus Speedway.

The chamber blamed Lantis for the loss of $14,571 in expenses and $7,444 in profits.

Although court documents show that both sides are expected to appear for an arbitration hearing March 23, attorneys say the case is primarily resolved and should be formally dismissed in Glendale Superior Court by August.