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Sprinkler Company Seeks To End Work At Trump Taj Mahal, Claims It's Owed Money By Bankrupt Casino

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — A Pennsylvania company that oversees sprinkler systems, fire alarms and other safety equipment at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort wants to end its contract with the bankrupt casino.

Tozour Energy Systems is asking a bankruptcy court judge in Delaware to let it terminate its contract with the Taj Mahal on Oct. 18, claiming it is owed more than $250,000.

That's about three weeks before parent company Trump Entertainment Resorts is threatening to close the casino, and could jeopardize the ability of the Taj Mahal to keep operating without someone to maintain its crucial lifesaving systems.

Trump Entertainment did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Tozour says in its court filing that its services are necessary for the casino to keep operating, but adds the 30-day notice it is giving should be enough time to find a new company to oversee the safety systems.

In February, Tozour signed a contract with Trump Entertainment to perform maintenance services at the Taj Mahal, including inspections of sprinklers, fire extinguishers, fire suppression systems in restaurants, and fire alarm systems. The company says it has the right to terminate the contract on 30 days' notice, and is asking a bankruptcy court judge to let it do that.

As of Sept. 9, when Trump Entertainment filed for bankruptcy, the casino company owed Tozour $251,373. Tozour said in its filing it is afraid Trump Entertainment will run out of money in bankruptcy court, and argues it should not be compelled to provide services to the casino.

Trump Entertainment closed Trump Plaza last week, and is threatening to shutter the Taj Mahal on Nov. 13 unless it wins major concessions from its main casino workers' union, including having workers give up their health insurance and pensions.

The Taj Mahal would be the fifth casino in Atlantic City to close this year; the city began the year with 12.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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