Conch Republic figurehead sues group

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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Conch Republic figurehead sues group

The man who has promoted the Conch Republic Independence Celebration in Key West for the past 18 years has filed countersuits in the ongoing battle over a new Upper Keys festival with a similar name.

Peter Anderson, the Conch Republic secretary general, responded to the Upper Keys Business Group's lawsuit against him with a demand for a jury trial and a counterclaim that asks for unspecified damages. It also demands the group and member Howard Kolbenheyer, Snapper's Waterfront Restaurant owner, be forbidden from "diluting" Anderson's two-decade claim to Conch Republic celebration rights.

The group organized a 10-day Conch Republic Days Northernmost Territories celebration April 17-26, which ran concurrent with the 27th annual festival, which Anderson took over in 1991.

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This should be interesting...

Submitted on Tue, 05/19/2009 - 5:13pm

Neither one of them has a legitimate claim to the name. It would appear to be a classic case of abandonment. Just because one individual picks up abandoned property first, does not make him the legitimate owner.

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Whatever it is...

Submitted on Tue, 05/19/2009 - 8:46pm

The youngest members of the conch republic navy are OLD AS SHIZZNIT.... the conch republic is going to die if they can't include some 60, 50, 40 or (god forbid) 30 somethings.

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AMEN TO THAT!!!

Submitted on Tue, 05/19/2009 - 8:18pm by malkiesmum

This guy needs to chill! The Conch Rebublic is from Key Largo to Key West, just not Key West! He is just mad because he probably isn't getting any royalties $$$$ for the upper keys festival. The sue is frivolous and I hope that he looses not only the case but also lots of $$$ in attorney's fee's! And which attorney is taking this case anyway's? the same one that the guy from the school's is getting? the one with the "no $hit" I will sue you at the end of the letter??! What a joke!