TouchPlay settlements reached

By Charlotte Eby | Monday, July 07, 2008

DES MOINES — State officials announced Monday they had reached settlements totaling $2.9 million with two more investors in the Iowa Lottery’s TouchPlay program.

Iowa legislators moved to ban the video lottery machines in 2006, prompting firms that had invested in the machines to sue the state.

The settlements were with Greater America Distributing Inc. in Johnston, a distributor of TouchPlay machines, and Nebraska Technical Services Inc., Omaha, Neb., a TouchPlay operator.

As part of their settlement, the firms have agreed to dismiss their portion of the lawsuit. Greater America Distributing also agreed to forgive debts owed to them by certain operators who leased TouchPlay machines.

The State Appeal Board approved the settlement Monday.

Several plaintiffs in the lawsuit still remain, and trial in the case is set for Sept. 8.

Charlotte Eby can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.