Attorney General's News Release

December 20, 2007

Preliminary injunction extends freeze on assets of Joplin promoter; another defendant added to lawsuit

Liberty, Mo. — A Joplin events promoter facing a lawsuit from Attorney General Jay Nixon today consented to a preliminary injunction that continues a freeze on his assets and requires him to post a $200,000 bond with the court before advertising or taking any more money for events. Derrick Gates, who promoted a Christian music festival called Godstock that was never held and a tattoo convention in Kansas City that has been indefinitely postponed, also submitted a financial accounting to the court.

Nixon sued Gates, who does business under the names OnFire Productions and HardNox Productions, in early December after receiving complaints from vendors who paid for concession booth space at the music festival but did not receive refunds when the show was cancelled. The Attorney General’s Office also has received complaints from vendors in regard to the tattoo convention which was originally scheduled for this month but which has been indefinitely postponed. Another defendant in Nixon’s lawsuit, Zachary Grimm, also consented to the preliminary injunction.

Jasper County Circuit Judge David Dally entered the preliminary injunction to extend the terms of the temporary restraining order he issued on Dec. 3, including the freeze on the assets of Gates and Grimm and the requirement to post the $200,000 bond with the court before promoting any more events. Grimm, unlike Gates, did not submit an accounting to the court today; Judge Dally gave him until the close of business on Dec. 26 to submit the accounting. If the accounting from Gates or Grimm is not submitted or is not complete, the Attorney General may file a motion to have either or both found in contempt of court.

Nixon also amended his lawsuit today to include another defendant, Josh Allen, an associate of Gates. Judge Dally issued a temporary restraining order against Allen that imposes the same terms as the order affecting Gates and Grimm: a freeze on the defendant’s assets and the requirement that a $200,000 bond must be posted with the court before he promotes any events. A hearing on Nixon’s request for a preliminary injunction against Allen is set for Dec. 27.

Vendors or anyone else who have not yet filed a complaint in connection with the Godstock or Ink Deep events but wish to do so can file the complaint online at ago.mo.gov or by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to the Press Secretary.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818