MIAMI (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Glenn Straub, owner of the Miami Arena, has filed a lawsuit to cancel a planned sale of the idle facility for $50 million, claiming his real estate broker and the would-be buyer violated a confidentiality agreement by talking with Major League Baseball about the site.
Straub accused developer Scott Silver and broker Edie Laquer of fraud and breach of contract for plans to “flip” the arena to Major League Baseball after the sale. The suit comes a week after Silver filed a lawsuit against Straub to honor the sales contract and turn over the arena, according to the Miami Herald.
MLB has been shopping for land just south of the arena for a possible Florida Marlins stadium, but would like to buy a portion of the arena’s land to increase the plot size.
On Tuesday, Silver said he only h as talked with league officials after signing the sales contract for the property. Silver and Laquer both denied Straub’s allegations, claiming they are a likely bid to hold onto the arena now that Major League Baseball might be interested in building nearby.
Straub, a wealthy Palm Beach developer and businessman, is no stranger to legal battles; companies led by him have been involved in dozens of lawsuits over various business deals.
He told the paper that he was eager to accommodate Major League Baseball if it needs part of the land for a stadium, and he may be interested in financing part of its construction.
“We would love to have a baseball facility next to us,” Straub told the Herald. “It’s a perfect location. I never though of it.” –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers