Mississauga and restaurant file lawsuits over arena naming dispute

The City of Mississauga and Paramount Fine Foods are now in a legal dispute over the naming rights for the city’s main sports and entertainment venue. The city said in May that it would rename the Paramount Fine Foods Centre, alleging the company owed $1.6 million. It later filed a claim seeking $9 million in damages, saying Paramount defaulted on payments tied to naming and concession rights and made only irregular payments. Paramount owner Mohamed Fakih responded with his own lawsuit on June 19, seeking millions in damages from Mayor Carolyn Parrish and the city for libel and defamation. His claim says the city and mayor knew the brand’s reputation mattered and used that sensitivity in making public accusations. Fakih also says shareholder issues delayed payments, but that he remained committed to paying.