Lisko pays price for link to Terry

Steve Lisko regrets having leased the Thunder Dome to Jim Terry and the EIFL.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HUBBARD -- Steve Lisko of Hubbard is paying a hefty price for associating himself in a business venture with Jim Terry and the Eastern Indoor Football League.
Lisko, who owns the Thunder Dome in Masury, was seeking to earn more revenue from his facility which he used as a warehouse for his business equipment, and leased the building to Terry and the four-team league to play games this winter.
Lisko said there were certain conditions attached to that lease which Terry had to fulfill, including providing liability insurance for the teams and paying him a rent of 500 per game and 15 percent of sponsors' fees.
But the only thing that Lisko has received so far has been financial and business jeopardy, threats and lost money -- at least 3,025 -- plus the 500 he paid Atty. Patrick Donlin of Warren in attempt to have Terry and the EIFL evicted from the Thunder Dome.
Lisko continues at risk
Lisko also remains at risk for potential lawsuits every time an EIFL team uses the Thunder Dome for practice and games because Terry has reportedly failed to secure the liability insurance.
Lisko said he has had enough and is fighting back.
"I am planning a civil suit against him for breach of contract and fraud. I think I should," said Lisko, who contends that Terry breached the contract and the lease when he didn't provide for liability insurance for the league players, and failed to pay him rent and his percentage of sponsors' fees.
Just prior to the EIFL's scheduled games Feb. 10, Lisko padlocked the door to the facility.
But a Trumbull County Sheriff's deputy who was working security for the games allowed Terry to enter the Thunder Dome, claiming Terry showed a lease and a right to use the facility.
Lisko said the sheriff's deputy explained it would be better to let Terry inside until the dispute was resolved, as a sign of his willingness to cooperate in the matter, even though his lease stipulates that the EIFL needed to have liability insurance for the lease to be valid.
A telephone message left by The Vindicator to Trumbull County Sheriff Thomas Altiere was not returned.
Eviction letter is delivered
Later that night, Lisko said the eviction letter drafted by Donlin was presented to Terry by the same Trumbull County Sheriff's deputy. Lisko was out of town and he had the letter delivered to the deputy by his brother, Robert.
Lisko paid Donlin 200 to draft and send the letter, then gave the attorney 300 more to file for the eviction notice in Trumbull County Court.
Donlin was supposed to do that Wednesday but told Lisko that he had a court date and couldn't do it, and that he planned to do it Thursday.
Donlin didn't return two telephone messages left at his office by The Vindicator for clarification.
Buzzards, FrontLine quit
Besides Lisko, the Mid American Buzzards, one of the four teams in the EIFL, and FrontLine Insurance of Troy, Ala., which gave Terry 3,500 for naming rights to the Thunder Dome field, also have severed ties with Terry and the EIFL.
Terry failed to provide liability insurance for the league through FrontLine Insurance, even though he told the four member teams and players that they were covered by FrontLine's insurance.
One of the Buzzards' players, Matt Holem of Davenport, Iowa, was severely injured during a Feb. 10 game at the Thunder Dome, but has no insurance. Both Holem and FrontLine also are contemplating legal action against Terry.
kovach@vindy.com