As the court battle for control of a trio of Atlantic City casinos between Carl Icahn and Donald Trump heats up, one question is coming into focus: How much is Donald Trump's name on the top of a casino worth?

Trump argues that giving him control of the company is the best move, in part because his name is such a big draw. Icahn counters that the main disadvantage to losing the Trump name would be the cost of changing the signs.

Burn!

Earlier this year, Carl Icahn acquired 51% of bankrupt Atlantic City casino operator Trump Entertainment Resort's $486 million in senior, secured bank debt, setting himself up for a battle with The Donald over his reorganization plan for a company that has now been in bankruptcy three times.

Trump's plan would give him a 10% equity stake in the new company, but Icahn says it won't work. According to Icahn's comments in court papers, allowing Trump's plan to sail through would lead to a re-leveraging of the company, and would set it up for a fourth appearance in bankruptcy court.

In an appearance on CNBC today, Donald Trump argued that it's time for the federal government to step in and force banks to lend. "Banks are not lending money, no matter how prime you are," Trump said. "The economy can't come back until the banks start lending."

"I don't think any bank in this country is soliciting loans," he added "Banks are bragging about the fact that they're making loans and they're not making loans."

Donald Trump's plan to build a Scotland resort with two golf courses, a 450-room hotel, 500 homes and 950 short-term rental apartments are being scuttled by a quarter of home owners who say their homes aren't for sale at any price.

Trump improved his offer to the sellers but according to Bloomberg, "David Milne, whose four-bedroom house, Hermit Point, is a former coastguard station, rejected an offer of 230,000 pounds, he said in a telephone interview today. He turned down an offer of 175,000 pounds three years ago."

While Donald Trump fights to regain control of the bankrupt Trump Entertainment Resorts, the company is also being sued by Coastal Marina, LLC , the company that had agreed to acquire the Trump Marina Hotel Casino from the company prior to the bankruptcy filing.

The lawsuit alleges that the company allowed the casino to fall into disrepair, and alleges fraud. Claiming that the buildings need $50 million in repairs, the lawsuit suggests that the casino put plants under leaky windows and skylights instead of repairing them. Ouch.

It's been a tough month for Donald Trump.

First his defamation suit against a New York Times reporter who authored a book casting doubt on Trump's claims of a 10-digit net worth was tossed out by a superior court judge.

Last month Trump took his $51 million Trump Park Avenue apartment off the market last month. Now it's back on the market but at a price of $31 million -- a discount of nearly 38% off the previous listing price.

World Wrestling Entertainment (NYSE: WWE) is calling on an old friend to help it bring in an audience beyond the media company's hardcore demographic. Donald Trump, who has worked storylines with WWE before (remember the battle between Trump and Vince McMahon, the one that saw McMahon lose his hair?), recently appeared on WWE's Raw television program. In fact, TVSquad.com discussed the high-profile promotion Trump's involvement received over this past weekend. TV Squad also covered the little controversy caused by Trump's "purchase" of WWE's famous asset (I honestly cannot believe that some investors actually sold the company's stock based on a storyline).

Using Trump isn't a bad idea. He's a pretty good performer, and he seems, at times, like a natural for the wrestling business. How should an investor process his involvement, however? Does it show that WWE is having a hard time developing engaging angles with its own talent roster?

After his Atlantic City casino chain rejected his buyout offer and descended into bankruptcy, Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka resigned from the board and he proclaimed that he wanted nothing more to do with the company.

Let the back-tracking begin. The Associated Press reports that Donald Trump is making an offer to acquire the company out of bankruptcy with the backing of Dallas-based Beal Bank. His offer will have to beat out a competing offer made by the bondholders. Since neither offer was publicly filed with the bankruptcy court, it's hard to handicap the Donald's chances.

The Atlantic City casinos have filed for bankruptcy twice in the past five years, and have been unable to compete in the highly competitive market because of a crushing debt load.

Donald Trump's magazine, the cleverly-titled Trump, has folded after two anonymous years of poor sales. Did anyone reading this know that there was a Trump magazine?

Apparently this was the Donald's third run at having a magazine and each time it's been a cash-burning machine, perhaps because people who are intelligent enough to be literate don't buy into his tower of hot air. Gawker reports that "Trump Magazine was launched in late 2007 as a joint venture by the Trump brand and Ocean Drive Media Group (now Niche Media Holdings LLC), targeting affluent readers in major U.S. markets. The quarterly magazine saw early success, cashing in on the booming advertising market for yachts and other high-end commodities."

Another day, another Donald Trump lawsuit.

Bloomberg reports that "Trump and Los Angeles-based Irongate Development allegedly induced buyers with marketing materials touting Trump's involvement when he had merely licensed his name to the project, known as Trump Ocean Resort Baja, according to the complaint filed yesterday on behalf of 69 condo buyers in state court in Los Angeles."

Donald Trump and the banks backing his flailing Trump International Hotel & Tower project in Chicago have reached a deal to temporarily suspend litigation.

The parties now have 90 days to figure out a settlement, and Trump has time to try to complete the 92-story building without the looming threat of foreclosure. The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) that "Sales of 339 hotel rooms and 486 condominium units have come in below original estimates and the project's current projected revenue remains short by nearly $100 million needed to pay off the senior first mortgage loan."

The bankruptcy of Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) and legal and financial woes surrounding the Trump International Hotel & Tower are causing some to question whether Donald Trump's name as a symbol of luxury will continue to carry value.

"His brand is associated with success and making money. And every time the word bankruptcy appears next to Trump, that's not good," says Allen Adamson, managing director of Landor, a brand consultancy. "He can take a few chinks in the armor, but I think he's probably at the limit."

Another day, another Donald Trump-related financial crisis.

After years of financial problems, Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) has filed for bankruptcy for the third time in its history. The company's last bankruptcy came in November of 2004.

The company reported assets of less than $50 million and debts of less than $500 million. Nine affiliates of the company also filed for bankruptcy, including Trump Plaza Associates, Trump Marina Associates and Trump Taj Mahal Associate. Including all affiliates, the company said it had consolidated assets of $2.1 billion and debt of $1.7 billion as of December 31st of 2008.

Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP) has been squeaking out forbearance agreements with its lender for months to avoid bankruptcy, but that game could finally be coming to an end.

The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) that "Bondholders to Trump Entertainment Resorts are planning to force the real-estate mogul's Atlantic City casino group into involuntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy early in the coming week, say several people familiar with the matter."

Just when you thought that Donald Trump could not come up with a new way to spin The Apprentice, he trumps you. That's because last night, Trump fired Trump from his role on the board of Trump Entertainment Resorts (NASDAQ: TRMP). The reason is simple -- Trump Entertainment bondholders are owed $53 million; the Donald stiffed them; and now the bondholders want Trump Entertainment to file for Chapter 11.

The Donald's self-firing is the latest salvo in a lengthy war between himself and his bondholders. A few weeks ago, I posted on the imminent deadline for a resolution of the matter. But Trump bondholders gave him a temporary reprieve until this coming Tuesday. And the Donald has mentally checked out of this mess boasting about how little it means to him -- "Moreover, the company has represented for quite some time substantially less than 1% of my net worth, and my investment in it is worthless to me now," according to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).