SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Torch Electronics filed another lawsuit this week against the city of Springfield, this time accusing Springfield police of unlawfully seizing nine of the company’s slot-machine-style gaming devices from businesses across the city.
Torch, Missouri’s largest vendor of these gaming machines, is set to go to trial in January in its first lawsuit against the city of Springfield – in which it claims its machines don’t fall under an ordinance the city passed in February banning “no chance” gaming machines that offer a cash prize.
The new lawsuit claims that since June 6, Springfield police officers “undertook a campaign” to seize Torch machines from eight convenience stores and one grocery store.
Torch claims it has a Springfield business license to provide “coin-operated amusement devices” in the city and the seizures are unlawful. Torch further alleges the devices were seized without a search warrant and were not removed in connection with any criminal investigation.