Booyaka! Jorg Cieslok’s “Paralyzed” and “Beaten Down” Titan Outdoor Lost $1 Million in 2007 Due to IllegalSign.ca’s Complaints
Titan Outdoor’s Jorg Cieslok has filed an affidavit [PDF] with the Ontario Superior Court in connection with its suit against the City. It is very interesting reading.
- Cieslok says: Titan “has lost both valuable leases and valuable marketing campaigns. This has further resulted in a loss of gross revenue of close to one million dollars during calendar year 2007. The City has more or less paralyzed Titan’s ability to continue its business in a manner that meets its clients’ expectations.” Paragraph 45.
- Cieslok claims that Titan has “up to 80% market share in the non-traditional, out-of-home advertising market” in the City of Toronto. Well, not anymore! Paragraph 8.
- Cieslok says “The City’s Notices of Revocation have been particularly troubling for Titan. These Notices have instilled a sense of fear in some of our property owners and has generally had a negative impact on our business and reputation.” Paragraph 51.
- Cieslok is “constantly called upon to explain our actions and legal positions to both our advertising clients and our landlords.” Paragraph 51
- Cieslok feels beaten down: “As an outdoor advertiser with a great deal of experience in the City, I can attest to he fact that Titan strives to be compliant with the requirements of the Sign By-law. Titan has also gone to great lengths to co-operate with the City. Titan, as a company, does not support the use of signage without permits. Regardless, Titan’s efforts have been for naught as its reputation has been beaten down by allegations of non-compliance and purported permit revocation.” Paragraph 52
- Cieslok claims that “Titan also exercises good corporate citizenship through the free promotion of non-commercial messages for” the Downtown Yonge BIA and the Elgin Winter Garden Theatre. The Elgin Winter Garden Theatre is in fact Titan’s landlord, and upon their building Titan is operating this illegal fascia sign. Paragraph 13.
- Cieslok uses this transformation of a fascia sign into a mural sign to indicate that both types of signs have a similar aesthetic impact. Vinyl is just “the next generation of a ‘painted sign.’” Paragraph 32.
Here is the affidavit in its entirety:
