Hughes since the 1950s, said "I knew from that point on that I was in trouble. He was completely incapable of making decisions." Hughes and Maheu never met each other in person due to Hughes' reclusive lifestyle. Instead, they communicated by telephone and through written messages. For months, they had intense arguments regarding the Landmark's opening date. Maheu believed the Landmark should open on July 1, 1969, but Hughes did not want to commit to an exact date for various reasons. Across the street from the Landmark, Kirk Kerkorian was planning to open his International Hotel on July 2, 1969. Hughes had wanted the Landmark's grand opening event to be better than Kerkorian's, but was concerned that the opening night would not go as planned. Hughes also did not want the opening date to be publicly announced too soon in the event that it should be delayed; Hughes wrote to Maheu: "With my reputation for unreliability in the keeping of engagements, I dont [sic] want this event announced until the date is absolutely firmly established." Additionally, Hughes wrote to Maheu: "I would hate to see the Landmark open on the 1st of July and then watch the International open a few days later and make the Landmark opening look like small potatoes by comparison." Maheu became concerned, as it was difficult to plan the grand opening without knowing the date. As the tentative opening date approached, Hughes became concerned about other events scheduled for July 1969 – such as the Apollo 11 moon landing – which might distract from the publicity of the Landmark's opening. By mid-June 1969, Hughes had still not given a definite opening date, which was still tentatively scheduled for July 1, although Hughes had wanted the Landmark to open sometime after the International Hotel. Weeks before the tentative opening, Hughes obsessively made repeated changes to the guest list for the resort's opening night. Regarding who should be invited, Hughes had complex specifications for Maheu to follow. Maheu ultimately had to decide the guest list himself. On June 16, 1969, Sun Realty filed a claim against Plaza Tower, Inc., thus delaying Hughes' purchase of the Landmark and threatening its planned opening. Sun Realty alleged that it was owed a $500,000 finder's fee for locating Hughes as a buyer. The case was dismissed on June 25, 1969. On June 30, 1969, Sun Realty appealed the decision but was