Donald Trump sues Stillman over troubled Fort Lauderdale hotel project

A lawsuit filed by billionaire Donald J. Trump claims that the developer of a Fort Lauderdale condo hotel soiled his reputation and cost him millions of dollars when he failed to complete the project.

The condo hotel at 551 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. was originally called the Trump International Hotel & Tower Fort Lauderdale. Trump wasn’t the developer, but he signed a licensing agreement with builder Roy Stillman and his SB Hotel Associates in 2004. The Trump Organization could have made millions of dollars in licensing fees and hotel management fees if the hotel had opened and sold it units to buyers, but that didn’t happen under Stillman.

The project fell into foreclosure, a wave of buyers filed lawsuit against both Stillman and Trump, and the building was eventually sold. It’s now called the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach Residences.

Trump and his companies filed a lawsuit in Broward County Circuit Court on April 24 against Stillman and SB Hotel Associates. West Palm Beach attorney James K. Green represents Trump. Miami attorney Stephen B. Gillman, who represents Stillman, couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

The lawsuit says the licensing agreement required Stillman to complete the hotel up to the high standards associated with Trump and his many hospitality properties. In 2008, Stillman realized the construction loan was enough to finish the project and his lender wouldn’t provide more funds so he decided to halt work on the project and terminate the hotel employees, according to Trump’s lawsuit.

Brian Bandell
South Florida Business Journal