Traverse City Film Festival, Vendor Settle Lawsuit

The lawsuit brought by longtime Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF) vendor Boston Light & Sound against the festival has been settled, The Ticker has learned.

Court documents show both parties signed a "stipulated order dismissing the case without prejudice.” The order was approved by 13th Circuit Court Judge Kevin Elsenheimer Wednesday.

Details of the settlement were not included in the filing. The dismissal, however, notes that claims asserted in the lawsuit are dismissed without costs awarded to any party.

The dispute originated last year when the vendor filed a lawsuit over an alleged unpaid $159,055 bill from 2017's event. The festival then filed a counterclaim against the company and demanded a jury trial in the case. Elsenheimer later sent the parties to mediation, but a trial had been scheduled for this June.

A statement from the TCFF said, “We are pleased with the satisfactory settlement announced today between the Traverse City Film Festival and Boston Light & Sound. We thank the community for their continued support.”

Closing the case “without prejudice" means the plaintiff maintains the right to pursue the lawsuit again in the future.