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Exhibit 99.2
CONTACT AT THE COMPANY:
Audrey Tassinari, Executive Vice President
Roy K. Keefer, Vice President
702-227-9800
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2000
AMERICAN VANTAGE COMPANIES' COURT ACTION DISMISSED
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, OCTOBER 9, 2000 ---- American Vantage Companies (NASDAQ:AVCS)
(the "Company") announced that an order (the "Order") was recently filed with
the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California (the
"District Court") by Judge Anthony W. Ishii dismissing, with prejudice, the
Company's claims against the Table Mountain Rancheria Band of Indians (the
"Tribe") due to the District Court's lack of subject matter jurisdiction and not
based on the merits of the case. In June 1999, the Company brought a civil
action in the District Court for breach of contract against the Tribe for
terminating the Company's contract to provide casino consulting services to the
Table Mountain Rancheria Casino & Bingo. At that time the Tribe filed a
countersuit against the Company. The Order similarly dismissed the Tribe's
counterclaims against the Company.
The Order was in response to an amended pleading filed by the Company in
connection with the February 2000 Order (the "Prior Order") filed with the
District Court dismissing the Company's claims and the Tribe's counterclaims due
to the District Court's lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Pursuant to the
Prior Order, either the Company or the Tribe could file a motion to amend its
pleading to remain in District Court or, in the alternative, pursue the matter
in state court.
THE COMPANY IS CONSIDERING ITS OPTIONS OF EITHER APPEALING THIS RULING OR
PURSUING ITS CLAIM AGAINST THE TABLE MOUNTAIN RANCHERIA BAND OF INDIANS IN STATE
COURT.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to
risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results may differ materially from
those described in any forward-looking statements. Additional information
concerning potential risk factors that could affect the Company's business and
financial results are included in the Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. They can also be found on the Company's website at
www.americanvantage.com and on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website
at www.sec.gov.
