Star Miami chef Barton Weiss sued the owners of the Versace mansion in South Beach, alleging they duped the restaurateur into signing a 10-year lease on a property while hiding its imminent default, South Florida Business Journal reported, citing a complaint filed with the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida this week.
Weiss, also known as Barton G, has filed for an emergency injunction to remove his boutique hotel and event space business from the mansion without any interference from the owners, the Journal said.
Casa Casuarina had used the mansion as a members-only club for several years before defaulting on the loan several times, documents states.
The complaint alleges the mansion’s owners, Casa Casuarina and Peter Loftin, knew that it would not be able to fulfill its obligations under a long-term lease Weiss signed in 2009.
After forming a company called 1116 Ocean Drive, Weiss intended to use the venue as a place to host upscale weddings, parties and operate a boutique hotel. But once news that the property could face foreclosure reached the public, Weiss was unable to book special events and hotel rooms due to the uncertainty that the restaurateur would continue to operate the mansion in the future, the Journal reported, citing the complaint.
The Versace mansion is currently listed for $100 million, according to the report. [South Florida Business Journal] –Emily Schmall