Black Network Television files multi-million dollar suit against Greensboro, N.C.

(Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from Target Market News) — Prominent trial attorney Willie Gary announced that he has filed a lawsuit against the City of Greensboro, N.C. on behalf of Black Network Television and its owners, Michael and Ramona Woods The Woods are suing the City of Greensboro for discrimination and losses related to an economic development loan from the city that was approved on June 18, 2013, and then reneged on one month later by a City Council vote of 6 to 3.

“The City of Greensboro’s discriminatory acts crushed our client’s dream,” said Gary. “Michael and Ramona Woods discussed with various city officials what a successful minority-owned Greensboro-based television network would mean to the community in terms of job creation, skills and training and economic development. As a result, the Woods put full trust and confidence in the city’s promise to grant the economic development loan, only to be misled, misguided, deceived and discriminated against,” continued Gary. “It isn’t right and we will not stand for it!”

The lawsuit outlines the claim for damages caused by the denial of the promised funds. The loan was slated for network operations, including production of a new national comedy series titled, “Whatcha Cookin’?”

In 2011, Michael and Ramona launched Black Network Tele­vision, the first African American-owned television station in the state of North Carolina. BNT is a regional television network that focuses on being the voice of the community. It serves 28 counties including Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance, Randolph, and Caswell. Our viewership spans over 4.2 million viewers that reach as far north as Martinsville, VA, as far south as Laurinburg, as far west as Charlotte, NC, and as far east at Raleigh, NC.

This article originally published in the August 25, 2014 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.