Suit: Don't call race "Home of Purdue"

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Purdue University has filed a lawsuit against the organizer of the "Home of Purdue" Half Marathon to attempt to stop him from using Purdue's name to promote the October 24 race.

The lawsuit was filed today in Tippecanoe Circuit Court against Dean Reinke and his company, Reinke Sports Group.

Purdue's Vice President of marketing and media Teri Thompson stated that Reinke has failed to respond to two formal letters asking him to quit promoting the race as the "Home of Purdue" Half Marathon.

Purdue University has stated that it has no connection to the event.

Thompson stated that the filing was a last resort after several attempts to disassociate Purdue from the half marathon.

Reinke orginally planned to hold the race in Lafayette, West Lafayette and on Purdue's campus but both cities, along with Purdue, told him he could not hold the race in the originally planned location . The race was then moved to Flora, in Carroll County, Indiana.

Visitor's Bureau President Jo Wade cited concerns that the YMCA and the community would not benefit from the race.

News Channel 18 contacted other communities that have hosted Reinke Sports Group races . Officials in Worcester, Massachusetts reported a positive experience, but officials in Clarksville, Tennessee dealt with unexpected expenses during the race, and those in Bentonville, Arkansas would not comment without an attorney present.

A copy of the 19-page complaint can be found at: http://news.uns.purdue.edu/
documents/1010PurdueComplaint.pdf