Friends of Historic Glasgow (Delaware)

Developer refiles SLAPP suits against FoHG members (2/20/2007)

Lawsuit gutted, developer amends complaint

The Wilmington News Journal

From staff reports
Tuesday, February 20, 2007

After his lawsuit was gutted by a Chancery Court judge earlier this month, developer Stephen Nichols has amended his complaint against a couple he claims undermined his purchase of the old La Grange farm in Glasgow.

The lawsuit, which Nichols refiled Monday, now seeks unspecified damages against David and Susan Arday for defamation and injurious falsehood.

Susan Arday is the granddaughter of farm owner Anne Barczewski, whose three adult children sold the property to Nichols in 2005 for $14.2 million. Nichols contends the Ardays made false, derogatory and personal attacks about him in a campaign to stop his plans for residential and commercial development on the property, which has been the focus of debate over its historical value.

In a bench ruling Feb. 6, Vice Chancellor Leo Strine dismissed the original claims in Nichols' lawsuit because the developer failed to prove negative comments by the Barczewski family members hurt his plans.

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20077022

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