Mon, Nov 24, 2008
Japanese Entrepreneur Disqualified For Medical Condition
Arguments were presented in federal
court Friday in a lawsuit brought against a space-tourism broker by
a Japanese millionaire, alleging the company bumped him from the
flight unfairly and he wants his money back.
Entrepreneur Daisuke Enomoto told US District Judge James
Cacheris he paid Space Adventures $21 million for a flight aboard a
Russian spacecraft to the International Space Station. After
refusing to yield to constant pressure to invest in the company,
Space Adventures used a pre-existing medical condition as
an excuse
to replace him on the flight, Enomoto
said.
Representing Space Adventures, lawyer John Villa argued that
Enomoto's money is not refundable. Motioning for dismissal, Villa
said Enomoto was aware the condition could disqualify him from the
flight, but refused doctors' advice to treat his kidney stones
aggressively.
Enomoto had hoped to be the first space tourist to walk in
space. In 2006, he completed eight months of preparation for the
flight at Moscow's Star City training facility, the Associated
press said.
After money problems arose, Enomoto claims he was then
disqualified and replaced by Anousheh Ansari, another space tourist
whose family's investment firm was willing to partner with Space
Adventures.
Enomoto's attorneys said he was unavailable for interviews, and
a Space Adventures spokesperson had no comment on the litigation in
progress.
A ruling by Judge Cacheris on the motion for dismissal is
expected later.
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