A $9 million countersuit against Livent Ltd. was launched by the Ontario Heritage Foundation June 22.

Livent, which is suing two of the executives of the Elgin Theatre, and its owner the Ontario Heritage Foundation, has a temporary injunction against the Elgin Theatre being rented to anyone other than Livent after Feb 7 1997.

This is as a result of the Elgin cancelling Livent's booking, and returning their cheque for $200,000 after Livent failed to get the Canadian rights to Rent, the blockbuster Tony award winning musical. The rights went to Livent's major competitor in Toronto, Mirvish Productions.

The court case for that hearing is set for July 8. As Mirvish wishes to open Rent in Toronto in November, the only theatre in Toronto that is suitable is the Elgin Theatre, with a capacity of approx. 1500.

At present, Mirvish does not have a contract with the Elgin, but is unable to book the theatre because of the injunction. David Mirvish, when asked, would not be drawn into the fight, simply stating that IF the Elgin is available, then Mirvish Productions will likely lease it!