The plaintiffs are seeking damages for negligence and fraudulent misrepresentation, among other counts.
Similar suits against the real estate mogul were filed recently in Miami and Baja, Calif., where other Trump condo developments are under way.
The lawyer for the plaintiffs said Trump aggressively promoted himself in a video and in news releases as having an integral role in developing the 52-story, ultra-luxury condominium tower, including picking the general contractor and selecting the look and feel of the units.
The lawsuit was filed in Circuit Court of the 13th Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County, Fla., in the city of Tampa.
"These people, the plaintiffs, spent thousands upon thousands of dollars based on Mr. Trump's assertions that he himself had a significant stake in the property and was the primary developer," said Daniel Clark of Tampa-based Clark & Martino PA. "They wanted to live in the house that Trump built. What they got was misled and deprived of a home. We want to make this right."
Trump attorney Alan G. Garten said the allegations are without merit.
"Mr. Trump was not the developer of the project, did not enter into contracts with any of the buyers and did not receive deposits from any of the buyers," he said today in a statement. "Mr. Trump licensed the use of his name to the developer, Simdag/Robel LLC, to brand the project – no different than any other luxury real estate brand.
"This was clearly disclosed to the buyers in both the purchase contracts they signed and the property reports they received, each of which expressly identified Simdag/Robel LLC as the project's developer and seller of the units," Garten said.
In 2006, Trump announced plans for the $300 million Trump Tower Philadelphia project - a 45-story, 263-unit tower proposed for Penn Street near the foot of Spring Garden Street. But late last year, that project was put on hold because of the credit crisis and worsening economy.
"With the current market conditions as they are, we have decided to continue construction in a more favorable environment," Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump, executive vice president of development and acquisitions for the Trump Organization in New York, which handles Trump's real estate ventures, said last November.
Units at the Trump waterfront development in Philadelphia were to start at $700,000.
|
|
|
|
|
|
PHILLY.COM INDICES WATCH
Business newsletter
Philly.com business voices
MOST POPULAR PHILLY.COM PHOTOS
Philly.com Promotions
