Russo and Steele sues tent company over auction damage

Four months after its Scottsdale, Ariz., auction was disrupted by severe weather, Russo and Steele is suing tent company Tri-Rentals for damage caused when a tent collapsed on several hundred collector cars.

In a statement released on Thursday, Russo and Steele said that it was forced to file suit against the rental company to protect its reputation.

The auction firm says its lawsuit cites negligence, gross negligence, breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing. The statement does not say what Russo and Steele is seeking from the tent-rental company.

Russo and Steele's four-day auction was disrupted on its first night, Jan. 21, when severe weather swept through the Phoenix area with rain and high winds. Scottsdale's Flood Planning Department had warned the auction house of a potential flooding hazard earlier that afternoon.

According to auction firm's statement, Tri-Rentals told Russo and Steele that it was reinforcing the tents at the auction site and said they were secure. The auction company also brought in industrial water pumps, ordered concrete barricades and arranged semis and trailers to act as wind blocks.

Despite the precautions, two 800-foot-long tents came loose during the storm's high winds. One tent was blown from its anchors onto a nearby freeway and the other tent collapsed onto cars entered in the auction.

The damage prompted the Scottsdale fire department to close the auction grounds. The grounds were kept closed for two days, and the auction resumed that Sunday.

By Izzi Bendall