From today’s Daily Business Review:

Judge won’t dismiss suit against Trump, developers

Polyana da Costa

11-24-2010

Donald Trump and the developers of Fort Lauderdale’s Trump International Hotel have failed in their latest attempt to dodge a lawsuit by buyers seeking to recover more than $6 million in pre-construction deposits.

Broward Circuit Judge Peter Weinstein on Friday denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against Trump and developers SB Hotel Associates, Roy Stillman of New York-based Stillman Development International, and Bayrock Group. Trump argues he is not one of the project’s developers and only licensed his name for the marketing of the project.

Joseph E. Altschul, a Fort Lauderdale attorney representing the 41 buyers in the suit, said the judge on Friday countered Trump’s position by reading a brochure with Trump’s signature used to market the project. The brochure featured a photograph of Trump and reads, “It is with great pleasure that I present my latest development, Trump International Hotel and Tower-Fort Lauderdale.”

The buyers accuse Trump and the developers of false advertising, deceptive and unfair trade practices and breach of contract for not completing construction of the project.

Trump International Hotel broke ground in 2005 and has yet to open. Corus Construction Venture filed a foreclosure lawsuit against the project earlier this year after the developers defaulted on a $139 million mortgage loan. That suit is pending.

The developers could not be immediately reached for comment.

Donald Trump and the developers of Fort Lauderdale’s Trump International Hotel have failed in their latest attempt to dodge a $6 million lawsuit.