PR Firm Kohnke Sues Perpetual For Fraud, Breach Of Contract

Author: by Leigh Alexander, Staff

Industry public relations firm Kohnke Communications is suing Star Trek Online developer Perpetual Entertainment, alleging fraudulent transfer, breach of contract, fraud and other charges, with claimed damages totaling between $80,000 and $280,000. MMO-focused consumer website TenTonHammer discovered the court documents filed in a California Superior Court, in which Kohnke alleges that Perpetual sold the Star Trek Online license to a separate corporate entity, P2 Entertainment, before liquidating its assets, without disclosing details of the transaction to the PR firm. Kohnke also alleges that Perpetual knew Gods and Heroes: Rome Rising would be canceled when it asked the firm to develop promotional materials for the game, calling that request ""fraudulent, oppressive, and with malice." The court filing additionally reveals Kohnke's allegation that Perpetual canceled the title in part to avoid paying the firm on the title's release. Perpetual president Chris McKibbin, CEO Joseph Keene, Perpetual Entertainment and P2 Entertainment are all listed as defendants in the suit. Thus far, Perpetual-related entities have not been contactable regarding the allegations. It's known that MMO publisher/developer Gravity has stated that it does not expect to recover any of the $9 million investment it made in Perpetual in 2006, but the status of Star Trek Online and the company's ownership is currently unclear.