Mexican Fiesta Federal Lawsuit Claims It Lost $103,410 In 2008

Texas promoters were paid $18,500 by organizers to bring two popular bands to Fiesta, but the bands never showed up

By H. Nelson Goodson
July 22, 2009

Milwaukee - A federal lawsuit filed by Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation Inc. (WHSF) who operates Mexican Fiesta claims that they paid at least $18,500 to Texas ‘La Otra Mitad’ promoters to bring two popular bands to Fiesta. The money was paid as a deposit to bring Los Primos de Durango and Big Circo to last year’s lakefront festival. Los Primos del Durango were supposed to have performed twice during the Aug. 23 and 24, 2008 event and would have cost a total of $27,000. Fiesta sent $13,500 as a deposit to contract Los Primos on May 5, 2008 to the promoters and $5,000 as a deposit on May 29, 2008 for Circo. Big Circo was also supposed to have performed twice at a cost of $10,000.
WHSF alleges the Texas promoters, Albert Ramirez Sr. and Martha Ramirez have yet to return the $13,500 in deposits, and is claiming a breach of contract. Fiesta organizers say the festival lost attendance, and revenues including marketing costs as a result of the no show of the bands.
Organizers estimated the festival lost profits from food, beer, and beverage sales totaling $103,410 and seeks a total of $211,110 in damages, the lawsuit states.