News and information from the New Orleans area
Posts tagged Zulu
2012 Zulu King Challenge Ended
013 years
Zulu-Parade-on-Canal-Street
Obviously, Jay Banks’ challenge rocked the Zulu Establishment to its very foundations. Just as quickly, Jay Banks dropped his challenge, so we won’t ever find out what became of those missing absentee ballots.
On Sunday, June 5, Zulu members also ratified James May 29 election.
Banks has run unsuccessfully for Zulu king twice in the past.
Zulu-coconut-Muses-shoe-2009
ZULU’S ELECTION OF 2012 KING IS CONTESTED
013 years
Zulu member
Zulu Coconut 2010 Ambassador
This was bound to happen for many reasons. In a system that cheerfully embraces the concept of “vote-buying,’’ it was probably only a matter of time before charges of election day irregularities marred the annual selection of a monarch to reign over the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club.
While many old-line Carnival organizations rely on lineage and social pedigree to choose their royalty under a shroud of secrecy, Zulu has used a democratic process to pick its Carnival personalities ever since the group was born in 1909.
And Zulu encourages would-be kings to wine and dine their subjects with good food, libations and occasionally gifts.
The whole case boils down to a dozen missing absentee ballots. The 2nd place finisher is contesting the election. He may have any excellent case if the missing ballots cannot be produced.
The contest to name the 2012 King Zulu took place Sunday, with lawyer Elroy James emerging as the unofficial winner in a five-way battle.
But before James can claim the crown, it looks like he must withstand a challenge from second-place finisher Jay H. Banks, who reportedly lost by seven votes.
Should be very interesting!
BARRY KERN WINS THIS ROUND, DAD HAS TO FOLLOW PAST AGREEMENTS
014 years
The owner of the world-famous Mardi Gras World has been ordered to relinquish his title and give ownership of the float-building company to his son.
Orleans Parish Civil District Judge Reese Kern made the ruling today, forcing Blaine Kern Sr. to hand over ownership of the company to Barry Kern at a shareholders meeting April 26.
Judge Reese Kern
Blaine Kern Sr. founded the company more than 50 years ago and provides floats for the majority of Mardi Gras Krewes that ride during New Orleans’ carnival season, including Rex, Bacchus, Endymion, Alla, Orpheus, and Caesar.
Barry Kern filed a suit against his father Oct. 1, 2010, to evict him “from any directorial or officer position” and to appoint “a receiver to manage and/or dissolve” Blaine Kern Artists (BKA).
That lawsuit made headlines across southeast Louisiana and, and just two days later, the Times-Picayune reported that an intermediary team composed of the Captains of Endymion and Bacchus had stepped in for Blaine and Barry Kern and resolved their differences.
Six months later, Barry Kern sued his father again, claiming Blaine Kern Sr. “failed and refused to consummate the agreement.” A violation of the October agreement requires the violating party to pay $100,000 to the other party, according to the suit.
The suit alleged that Blaine Kern Sr. had agreed in part to sell his shares of the company to Barry Kern, “including payment of debts of Blaine Kern, Sr., lease of facilities owned by Blaine Kern Sr., and a lifetime consulting contract with Blain Kern Sr.”
Blaine Kern Sr. improperly acted as a manager of BKA, the suit alleged. Kern allegedly fired his other son, Brian Kern, asked for BKA to pay his personal expenses and demanded the cashier at Mardi Gras World to give him money from the cash register.
The suit claimed “Blaine Kern Sr. has no right to exercise any managerial control over BKA. “The agreements between Barry and Blaine Kern were arranged by Owen “Pip” Bennan, the captain of the Mardi Gras krewe Bacchus, the suit said.
The meetings resulted in a seven-point letter of intent and a four-point agreement, which essentially transferred control of BKA from father to son. Soon after the agreement was announced, a recorded offer of settlement was filed in Orleans Parish on Oct. 5, according to court documents. The case remains active under Judge Michael Bagneris.
The original suit stated Barry Kern is seeking control of BKA because his father, 83, has acted under the influence of his fourth wife, Holly Brown, who is nearly 50 years younger than him.
The October suit alleged that Blaine Kern’s spending has made BKA “technically insolvent” and that the company has bounced payroll checks to employees. It also claims that Blaine Kern named Brown as co-captain and treasurer of Blaine Kern’s Krewe of Halloween in the Boo Carre, which has failed to make timely payments on equipment and materials provided by BKA.
The suit also makes the claim that Blaine Kern improperly fired Barry Kern, who was named president of BKA in 1995 after successfully running similar companies in Europe, Las Vegas and Orlando. Barry Kern has since resigned as president even though the suit claims Blaine Kern had no authority to fire his son.
Brown is not mentioned in the most recent suit filed by Barry Kern.
New Orleans attorneys Randall Smith, Stephen Gele and Melissa Desormeaux are representing Kern.
BARRY KERN SUES HIS DAD AGAIN!!
014 years
Barry & Blaine Kern
The most renowned and biggest Mardi Gras float builder is feuding publicly again. The family organization that builds Rex, Bacchus, Orpheus, Endymion, and Zulu, among other icon parades in New Orleans has their dirty laundry out for all to see.
The son of famous Mardi Gras float designer Blaine Kern has once more filed suit against his eighty three year old father, this time claiming the elder Kern has reneged on an agreement they made in October.
Barry Kern filed suit against his father Blaine last year in an attempt to oust him from the family float business, but local Mardi Gras krewe captains built a truce. When Barry last filed suit, key Mardi Gras Captains forged a truce which was they believed was forever but…
Barry Kern announced Thursday that he is again suing his father. Here’s the lawsuit.
“No one is more saddened than I that my father has refused to honor the agreements we publicly made on October 5, 2010,” said Barry Kern in a statement. “I have been trying for six months to have him do so, but we cannot wait any longer. I love my dad, but I have been forced to act to protect him, my family, our company, our employees, and the best interests of Mardi Gras.”
In the suit Barry Kern alleges that Blaine Kern has interfered with his son’s managerial control in several ways, including: firing his other son, Brian Kern; demanding payments for personal expenses; reducing a contract with a client that put it below the amount needed just to meet costs; and appearing at the cash register at Mardi Gras World, demanding cash.
The original suit in October, 2010, contended that Blaine Kern had mismanaged the business, leaving it “technically insolvent.” Blaine Kern replied at the time that he had fired his son as company president for running the business into the ground.
Blaine Kern said this evening he had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment.
Blaine and Holly before marriage
Tickets to Intercontinental Hotel Stands on Sale for Mardi Gras 2011
014 years
| Stands are raised tier platform type with no seating. No reserved spots – first come first serve basis. No refunds rain or shine. No ice chests, chairs, strollers or smoking allowed on stands. Hotel Management reserves the right to remove anyone from the Stands. All children under 12 to be accompanied by an adult at all times. Opening times for Stands may vary dependent upon parade delays.
Krewe of Oshun Krewe of Pontchartrain, Knights of Sparta & Krewe of Pygmalion Krewe of Pontchartrain – single parade Knights of Sparta & Krewe of Pygmalion – only
Krewe of Carrollton & Krewe of King Arthur Krewe of Babylon, Knights of Chaos & Krewe of Muses Krewe of Hermes, Le Krewe d’Etat & Krewe of Morpheus Krewe of Iris & Krewe of Tucks only Krewe of Endymion only Mardi Gras Parade Package Saturday Day & Night Parades Krewe of Okeanos, Krewe of Thoth & Krewe of Mid-City only Krewe of Bacchus only Mardi Gras Parade Package Sunday Day & Night Parades Krewe of Proteus & Krewe of Orpheus Mardi Gras Day: Krewe of Rex, Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club, Krewe of Elks & Krewe of Crescent City Mardi Gras Day Buffet |