Editor’s Note: After this article was published, we received a very compelling email from Alexander Lorenz, President and CEO of BYZANTIVM. He explained that he had not yet been served with the lawsuit. He also explains the situation in great detail. Read his response here.
BYZANTIVM Faces Lawsuit Over Hotel Lighting Project
A federal lawsuit has placed a high-profile hotel lighting project under scrutiny. Hawaii Lighting Representatives (HLR) has sued BYZANTIVM, alleging the company supplied defective custom lighting fixtures for the renovation of the conference center at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix. The complaint seeks more than $758,000 in damages, with potential costs climbing significantly higher.
EdisonReport Seeks Comment from BYZANTIVM
Your humble editor contacted Alexander Lorenz, President and CEO of BYZANTIVM, seeking comment regarding the litigation and the JW Marriott Phoenix project.
When informed that the call involved questions related to the lawsuit, Lorenz ended the call. Companies involved in active litigation frequently provide a “no comment” response or refer inquiries to legal counsel. In this case, it appeared that he simply hung up.
The Relationship Between HLR and BYZANTIVM
The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. According to court filings, HLR served as an authorized sales representative for Byzantivm under an Exclusive Representation Agreement signed in August 2024.
The companies later entered into a purchase order for fifteen custom fixtures for the JW Marriott project.
Allegations Focus on Four Custom Fixtures
The BYZANTIVM lawsuit centers on four custom fixtures identified as LT-08, LT-09, LT-10 and LT-12. HLR alleges the products suffered from manufacturing defects, shipping damage, installation failures and life-safety concerns that prevented the fixtures from functioning as intended.
One of the most significant allegations involves LT-08, an organic-shaped chandelier designed for a pre-function lobby area. According to the complaint, glass components detached and fell from the ceiling shortly after installation in July 2025.
HLR alleges the problem originated in a glass-to-frame connection that lacked sufficient structural strength. The complaint claims the connection contained a known failure point that caused the assembly to fail.
Ballroom Fixture Problems Alleged
Additional allegations involve the ballroom fixtures identified as LT-09, LT-10 and LT-12. According to HLR, glass components repeatedly arrived damaged because of packaging and shipping problems.
The complaint further alleges that replacement glass arrived with dimensional inconsistencies that prevented proper installation. HLR claims those issues led to additional field failures and more broken glass during installation attempts.
Damages Could Continue to Grow
According to the filing, HLR paid Byzantivm approximately $616,026 for the fixtures and associated shipping expenses. HLR also alleges it has incurred an additional $142,925 in remediation costs.
The complaint further states that sourcing replacement fixtures elsewhere could add hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional expense.
Lawsuit Requests Jury Trial
The lawsuit includes claims for breach of contract, breach of express warranty and unjust enrichment. HLR has requested a jury trial.