IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS GENERAL DIVISION … · IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS GENERAL DIVISION...
Transcript of IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS GENERAL DIVISION … · IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS GENERAL DIVISION...
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IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
GENERAL DIVISION
CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO
STATE EX REL. COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA )
1219 Ontario Street ) CASE NO:
Cleveland, Ohio 44113 )
) JUDGE:
Plaintiff, )
)
v. )
)
JONES LANG LASALLE GREAT LAKES )
CORPORATE REAL ESTATE PARTNERS, )
LLC (FORMERLY GREAT LAKES )
CORPORATE REAL ESTATE PARTNERS, )
LLC) )
c/o Statutory Agent, )
CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service ) COMPLAINT
50 W. Broad ST Suite 1800 )
Columbus, OH 43215 ) (JURY DEMAND ENDORSED HEREON)
)
and )
)
JONES LANG LASALLE, INC. )
c/o Statutory Agent, )
CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service )
7 St. Paul Street, Suite 1600 )
Baltimore, MD 21202 )
)
and )
)
HARVEY G. OPPMANN )
7460 Foxboro Rd. )
Gates Mills, Ohio 44040-9687 )
)
and )
)
944 PROSPECT AVENUE LLC )
c/o Statutory Agent, )
U-B Corporation )
Skylight Office Tower, Ste. 1100 )
1660 W. 2nd St. )
Cleveland, Ohio 44113-1448 )
)
and )
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)
VINCENT A. RUSSO )
37245 Beech Hills Drive )
Willoughby Hills, OH 44094 )
)
and )
)
VINCORE, LLC )
c/o Statutory Agent, )
Vincent Russo )
22250 Harms Drive )
Richmond Heights, OH 44143 )
)
and )
)
GARIBALDI HOLDINGS )
c/o Statutory Agent, )
Vincore, LLC )
1133 Bonnine Ln. )
Mayfield Heights, OH 44124 )
)
and )
)
M2J1, LLC )
c/o Statutory Agent, )
Vincent P. Carbone )
5885 Landerbrook Drive Ste 110 )
Cleveland, OH 44124 )
)
and )
)
MIDWEST ENTERTAINMENT VENTURE, )
LLC )
c/o Statutory Agent, )
Ernest V. Roncone )
1299 West 9th
Street )
Cleveland, OH 44113 )
)
and )
)
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ANATOMY NIGHTCLUB )
1299 W 9th St. )
Cleveland, OH 44113 )
)
Defendants. )
Plaintiff for its Complaint against Defendants, Jones Lang LaSalle Great Lakes Corporate
Real Estate Partners, LLC, formerly known as Great Lakes Corporate Real Estate Partners, LLC
(“Great Lakes”), Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc. (“Jones Lang”), Harvey G. Oppmann (“Oppmann”)
944 Prospect Avenue LLC (“Prospect”), Vincent A. Russo (“Vincent Russo”), VinCore, LLC
(“VinCore”), Garibaldi Holdings (“Garibaldi”), M2J1, LLC (“M2J1”), Midwest Entertainment
Venture, LLC (“MEV”), and Anatomy Nightclub (“Anatomy”) (collectively “Defendants”),
states as follows:
I. PARTIES AND RELEVANT THIRD-PARTIES
1. Cuyahoga County is a body corporate and politic as well as a political subdivision
of the State of Ohio (“Cuyahoga County”).
2. Great Lakes is an Ohio limited liability company doing business in Cuyahoga
County, Ohio. During the relevant time period, Great Lakes did business under the fictitious
name “The Staubach Company – Great Lakes Region” and was a subsidiary of The Staubach
Company, Inc. (“Staubach”). Through the merger of Staubach Company and Jones Lang in 2008
and by operation of law, Great Lakes became a subsidiary of Jones Lang and changed its name
with the Ohio Secretary of State to “Jones Lang LaSalle Great Lakes Corporate Real Estate
Partners, LLC” on August 21, 2008. Great Lakes at all times related hereto was the alter ego of
Staubach.
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3. Jones Lang is a Maryland corporation doing business in Cuyahoga County and is
the successor to Staubach by merger and operation of law.
4. Oppmann is an individual residing in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
5. Prospect is an Ohio limited liability company doing business in Cuyahoga
County, Ohio. Upon information and belief, Oppmann is a member and manager of Prospect.
6. Vincent Russo is an individual residing in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Vincent
Russo is the son of Frank Russo, the former Auditor of Cuyahoga County.
7. VinCore is an Ohio limited liability company doing business in Cuyahoga
County, Ohio. Upon information and belief, Vincent Russo is a member and manager of
VinCore.
8. Garibaldi Holdings is an Ohio limited liability company doing business in
Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Upon information and belief, VinCore is a member and manager of
Garibaldi Holdings.
9. M2J1 is an Ohio limited liability company doing business in Cuyahoga County,
Ohio. Upon information and belief, Vincent Carbone is a member and manager of M2J1.
10. MEV is an Ohio limited liability company doing business in Cuyahoga County,
Ohio and was in part owned by Steven Pumper as an “off the book” partner.
11. Anatomy is a nightclub operating as a dba of MEV.
12. Anthony O. Calabrese, III (“Calabrese”) was previously an attorney licensed to
practice law in the State of Ohio.
13. Jimmy Dimora (“Commissioner Dimora”) is a former Cuyahoga County
Commissioner.
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14. J. Kevin Kelley (“Kelley”) worked in the Cuyahoga County Treasurer’s Office
and was part of Commissioner Dimora’s inner circle.
15. Burlwood Holdings, LLC (“Burlwood”) was an Ohio limited liability company
owned and managed by Calabrese.
16. Vincent Carbone was the president of R.P. Carbone Company.
17. R.P. Carbone Company (“Carbone”) is an Ohio corporation who performs
construction and real estate services.
18. Jurisdiction and venue are proper before this Court as Cuyahoga County is where
all or part of the claims for relief arose.
II. FACTS AND BACKGROUND
19. In January of 2003, Great Lakes hired Calabrese and his law firm to act as its
agent.
20. Great Lakes wanted to do work for Cuyahoga County and had not been successful
in obtaining Cuyahoga County’s business.
21. Great Lakes hired Calabrese and his law firm, in part, because they wanted help
getting work from Cuyahoga County.
22. As a result of hiring Calabrese and his law firm as its agent, in February of 2003,
Great Lakes began having meetings with Cuyahoga County officials.
23. As a result of hiring Calabrese and his law firm as its agent, in March of 2003,
Great Lakes had a private meeting with then Commissioner Dimora.
24. Shortly after meeting with Commissioner Dimora, Great Lakes made a proposal
to Commissioner Dimora to provide services to Cuyahoga County (“Proposal”).
25. The Proposal was sold to Cuyahoga County as being a “no cost” agreement.
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26. In April of 2003, Great Lakes and Calabrese met to discuss a strategy to obtain
work for Great Lakes from Cuyahoga County.
27. As a result of hiring Calabrese and his law firm as its agent, Great Lakes had
another private meeting with then Commissioner Dimora in May of 2003.
28. By September of 2003, Great Lakes’ Proposal was accepted and it was hired to
provide services to Cuyahoga County in connection with Courthouse Square and the Marion
Building.
29. Great Lakes’ fee for the work it was to do on Courthouse Square and the Marion
Building was to come from third parties and therefore, according to Great Lakes, was a “no cost”
fee to Cuyahoga County.
30. By November 2003, Great Lakes had structured a deal on both Courthouse Square
and the Marion Building.
31. Despite the “no cost” fee to Cuyahoga County, after the deal was structured on
Courthouse Square and the Marion Building, Great Lakes suggested financing a total of
$295,000 into the transaction cost to be paid by Cuyahoga County and indicated that doing so
would save Cuyahoga County money.
32. On November 25, 2003, Cuyahoga County issued a Request for Proposal for
services related to the proposed consolidation of the County’s agencies into one building or
campus (“RFP”).
33. The responses to the RFP were due on January 30, 2004.
34. On December 11, 2003, while Great Lakes was planning its response to the RFP,
Calabrese and Great Lakes had a private meeting with then Commissioner Dimora.
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35. In February of 2004, Staubach, on behalf of what would become Great Lakes,
submitted its RFP response.
36. In its RFP response letter, Great Lakes, through its employees, Robert Roe,
Christopher Livingston and Michael McShea stated as its Guarantee of Value “if Cuyahoga
County ever believes that [Great Lakes] has not performed on this assignment in accordance with
your expectations, the County has the unilateral right to adjust our fees. To our knowledge, no
other firm in the country will put their reputation, resources and fees 100% at risk.”
37. The Great Lakes RFP response indicated that its subcontractors would perform
much of the initial work: DLZ would be leading the effort on space planning; RCJ Resources
LLC would be providing public participation, program and project facilitation and management,
government relations and community needs assessments; Johnson Controls, Inc. would be
providing energy saving and building controls solutions; and Carbone would provide services
that were unclear; however, the RFP response listed work previously completed by Carbone for
Cuyahoga County.
38. The Great Lakes RFP stated that, if Cuyahoga County pursued a leasehold interest
in a building as opposed to a purchase, its fee would range between 2%-4% of the gross
aggregate value of the lease.
39. The Great Lakes RFP stated that, if Cuyahoga County decided to purchase a
property, the fee would be paid by the seller at a rate of $5.00-$7.00 per square foot calculated
on gross building area.
40. The Great Lakes RFP stated that Cuyahoga County would need to provide a
retainer of an uncertain amount at the outset of the project, which would be credited or given
back upon completion of the project.
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41. In March of 2004, Great Lakes proposed in response to the RFP and was selected
as one of five in which Cuyahoga County would further evaluate.
42. The other four selected RFP responses stated a sum certain in the range of
$300,000-$400,000 for phases I and II of the project.
43. During April of 2004, all five finalists made presentations to Cuyahoga County.
44. In April of 2004, while the decision was pending, Great Lakes had meetings with
Cuyahoga County officials arranged by Calabrese.
45. A contract was not awarded on the RFP proposals until October 5, 2004.
46. In the meantime, while waiting to learn who would be selected, on June 1, 2004,
Great Lakes entered into an agreement with Vincent Russo through VinCore. (“VinCore
Contract”).
47. The VinCore Contract provided that VinCore’s services would be limited to
“providing certain government relations and similar consulting services.”
48. As payment for the services, Great Lakes agreed to pay VinCore $2,000 in June
of 2004 and $2,000 in July of 2004.
49. In June of 2004, Great Lakes and Calabrese held additional meetings with
Cuyahoga County officials.
50. On July 2, 2004, Staubach sent in a pricing proposal for the RFP services because
their initial RFP response was not clear as to cost.
51. The July 2, 2004 pricing proposal indicated that because Cuyahoga County did
not yet know if it was going to lease or purchase a property, it proposed to be paid $5.85 per
gross building square foot for any type of transaction that took place in Phase III of the project.
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52. Staubach proposed to provide consulting and strategic planning services on
Phases I and II of the project on an hourly basis for a lump sum of $396,000 to be paid in four
consecutive monthly installments, with the amount to be credited back to Cuyahoga County once
Cuyahoga County entered into a lease or purchase agreement.
53. Great Lakes was selected, and in September of 2004, Great Lakes’ agent
Calabrese was negotiating a contract for Great Lakes with Cuyahoga County on the work
described in the RFP.
54. Purportedly, on October 1, 2004, Great Lakes entered into another contract with a
Vincent Russo entity, “Garibaldi Holdings” (“Garibaldi 1 Contract”).
55. Garibaldi Holdings used Great Lakes’ agent Calabrese’s law firm address as its
address.
56. The Garibaldi 1 Contract provided that Garibaldi Holdings would provide
government relations work in exchange for $150,000.
57. The government relations work referenced in the Garabaldi 1 Contract was to be
limited to “services provided by [Great Lakes] pursuant to [the Cuyahoga County Contract].”
58. The Garibaldi 1 Contract for government relations work specifically references by
date an event that had not yet occurred, i.e., the October 5, 2004 contract Great Lakes would
enter into with Cuyahoga County.
59. As of October 1, 2004, Great Lakes did not know the terms of the final contract
with Cuyahoga County or when the contract would be signed.
60. Purportedly, on October 1, 2004, Great Lakes entered into a contract with
Carbone which provided that Carbone would provide government relations work in exchange for
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a percentage of the amount Great Lakes made on the Cuyahoga County Contract (“Carbone
Government Relations Contract”).
61. The October 1, 2004 the Carbone Government Relations Contract specifically
references an event that had not yet occurred, i.e., the October 5, 2004 contract Great Lakes
would enter into with Cuyahoga County.
62. As of October 1, 2004, Great Lakes did not know what the terms of the final
contract would be with Cuyahoga County or when it would be signed.
63. On October 5, 2004, Cuyahoga County entered into a contract with Great Lakes
for Great Lakes to provide the services as set forth in their RFP response (the “Cuyahoga County
Contract”). A copy of the Cuyahoga County Contract is attached hereto as Exhibit 1.
64. Article 4 of the Cuyahoga County Contract states:
[Great Lakes] will be solely and entirely responsible for its
acts and the acts of its agents, employees, servants and
subcontractors during the performance of this Agreement.
See Cuyahoga County Contract, P. 20.
65. The Cuyahoga County Contract also provides in Article 13 that:
[Great Lakes] agrees to comply with all applicable federal,
state and local laws, regulations, and codes…. See
Cuyahoga County Contract P. 26.
66. The Cuyahoga County Contract also provides in Article 16 that Great Lakes shall:
. . .act solely on behalf of the Client and recognizes that its
fiduciary responsibility is to the Client in all matters related
to this Agreement. See Cuyahoga County Contract P. 27.
67. On November 1, 2004, Great Lakes entered into a second contract with Carbone
for Carbone to provide services in connection with the Contract (“Carbone Work Contract”).
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68. Great Lakes agreed in the Carbone Work Contract to pay Carbone $30,000 for its
time and services in connection with work required in Phase I & II of the Cuyahoga County
Contract.
69. Also, on November 1, 2004, Great Lakes entered into yet another agreement with
VinCore, but this time doing business as Garibaldi (“Garibaldi 2 Contract”).
70. The Garibaldi 2 Contract provided that VinCore’s services would be government
relations and marketing services and promoting the services of Great Lakes.
71. The Garibaldi 2 Contract specifically stated that Garibaldi would provide
governmental and marketing services in “regard to assisting, advising and counseling the
Company in regard to any of its contracts with Cuyahoga County, Ohio.”
72. As payment under the Garibaldi 2 Contract, Great Lakes agreed to pay $140,000.
73. The services required by Carbone and Garibaldi in the Carbone Government
Relations Contract, Garibaldi 1 Contract and Garibaldi 2 Contract had no beginning and no
ending date.
74. Carbone, Garibaldi and Great Lakes were all represented by Calabrese.
75. Garibaldi was paid $140,000 by Great Lakes between December of 2004 and
October of 2005.
76. Great Lakes charged the $140,000 paid to Garibaldi as costs associated with the
Cuyahoga County Contract.
77. Great Lakes has no records of what the actual services were that were provided by
VinCore or Garibaldi other than the contracts and the checks it paid.
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78. Vincent Russo, the owner of VinCore and Garibaldi, was indicted and pled guilty
to bribery, aiding and abetting, conspiracy to commit bribery and HOBBS Act conspiracy
charges related to federal funds.
79. Great Lakes paid $324,800 to Carbone or one of his entities on the Carbone
Government Services Contract.
80. Great Lakes has no records of what services Carbone provided under the Carbone
Government Services Contract other than the contract and the checks it paid.
81. The payments under the Carbone Government Services Contract were charged as
a cost by Great Lakes to the Cuyahoga County Contract.
82. Neither VinCore, Garibaldi, Vincent Russo, Vincent Carbone nor Carbone make
their principal living or profits by providing government relations services.
83. Carbone was indicted and pled guilty to conspiracy and money laundering related
to bribery to gain governmental contracts.
84. In November of 2004, Great Lakes wrote its agent Calabrese and thanked him for
helping it get the Cuyahoga County Contract.
85. By November 19, 2004, Great Lakes had already completed the initial phase of
the work and reported the results to Cuyahoga County.
86. In that report, Great Lakes placed the Ameritrust property owned by The Richard
E. Jacobs Group as being in 4th place overall as a potential location for the consolidated
Cuyahoga County location.
87. In December of 2004, Great Lakes and its agent Calabrese had a dinner scheduled
with then Commissioner Dimora that had to be rescheduled.
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88. On January 21, 2005, Great Lakes, its agent Calabrese and then Commissioner
Dimora met at the Holiday Inn on Rockside Road.
89. On January 25, 2005, Great Lakes reported to Cuyahoga County that they had
completed the initial phases of the work – Phases I & II.
90. The Phase I & II work was completed in under 4 months.
91. The report on Phase I & II recommended that Cuyahoga County proceed with the
Ameritrust site.
92. This recommendation was made only 2 months after Ameritrust was in 4th place.
93. Great Lakes has no records which demonstrate that additional facts were gathered
or that additional information was learned between the time Ameritrust was ranked in 4th place
by Great Lakes and when it was selected as the site Cuyahoga County should pursue.
94. On March 31, 2005, Great Lakes wrote Cuyahoga County and indicated that it
was seeking the then Cuyahoga County Commissioners’ approval to move into Phase III of the
Cuyahoga County Contract.
95. Great Lakes never received the approval of Cuyahoga County to move into Phase
III of the contract.
96. Instead, the then Cuyahoga County Commissioners and Great Lakes agreed that
Great Lakes would cease work on the contract and would be paid an additional $2,615,000 along
with keeping the $385,000 retainer (“Cease Work Contract”).
97. Great Lakes was therefore paid $3,000,000 for approximately 5 months of work.
98. Much of the work on the Cuyahoga County Contract was done by subcontractors
of Great Lakes.
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99. Had Great Lakes continued and completed the Cuyahoga County Contract, it
anticipated returning the $385,000 and disbursing 35% of the future payments made under the
Cuyahoga Contract to subcontractors.
100. Great Lakes anticipated that its portion of the fee would be $2,850,000 had it
completed the Cuyahoga County Contract.
101. Instead, Great Lakes received $3,000,000 and did not have to finish the work,
incur the costs or take any risks.
102. The Cease Work Contract provided that Great Lakes would be paid once the deal
for the Ameritrust site was closed.
103. Cuyahoga County paid Great Lakes as required by the Cease Work Contract.
104. Vincent Carbone, through his lawyer Calabrese, formed a new LLC in October of
2005 known as M2J1.
105. M2J1 never operated as a business.
106. Despite having contracted with Carbone on the Carbone Government Relations
Contract, Great Lakes was requested to, and did pay, M2J1 instead of Carbone.
107. Great Lakes paid M2J1 on the Carbone Government Relations Contract two
checks, one for $25,000 and one for $299,800 for a total of $324,800.
108. The $324,800 paid to M2J1 was charged by Great Lakes to the Cuyahoga County
Contract.
109. Despite being charged internally by Great Lakes to the Cuyahoga County
Contract, the $324,800 due to Carbone and paid to M2J1 was not included on the Great Lakes
budgets kept on the Cuyahoga County Contract while work on it was ongoing.
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110. Carbone was paid $30,000 by Great Lakes on the Carbone Service Contract and
that $30,000 was accurately reflected on Great Lakes’ ongoing project budgets.
111. Once M2J1 was paid on the Carbone Government Relations Contract, it
distributed the money to three others.
112. One payment in the amount of $99,000 was paid to Burlwood, an entity owned by
Calabrese.
113. One payment in the amount of $70,000 was made to a Calabrese friend.
114. One payment in the amount of $70,000 was made to an individual who was given
instructions to, and did pay, the $70,000 to Kelley.
115. Great Lakes’ agent Calabrese was indicted on July 16, 2013, and pled guilty to an
indictment in Cuyahoga County, in part, based on his actions out of the Ameritrust site and the
$99,000 payment that was from Great Lakes to Carbone to Calabrese.
116. By virtue of his guilty plea, Great Lakes’ agent Calabrese admitted that the
$70,000 payment to Kelley was an unlawful bribe related to the Ameritrust project.
117. It was not until the Cuyahoga County indictment against Calabrese was filed that
Cuyahoga County was aware that there was corruption associated with the Ameritrust site.
118. Calabrese was indicted and pled guilty to federal charges, including multiple
counts of RICO conspiracy, bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs
receiving federal funds, Hobbs Act conspiracy, mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
119. Three of the people who either owned companies or who personally worked with
Great Lakes and to whom Great Lakes paid over $500,000 for government relations work on the
Cuyahoga County Contract have been indicted and pled guilty on charges of corruption related to
public officials.
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120. Three of the people who either owned companies or who personally worked with
Great Lakes, and to whom Great Lakes paid over $500,000 for government relations work on the
Cuyahoga County Contract, have been indicted and pled guilty on charges of corruption related
to public officials and have admitted to engaging in corruption with numerous other former
government officials that have either pled guilty to or been found guilty of corruption while in
office, with that corruption stemming from their dealings with the same people Great Lakes
hired.
121. Great Lakes hired VinCore, Garibaldi, Carbone and Calabrese because Great
Lakes knew they could influence the decision makers in Cuyahoga County.
122. Great Lakes paid VinCore, Garibaldi, Carbone and Calabrese an inflated amount
of money because it knew or should have known that VinCore, Garibaldi, Carbone and
Calabrese needed funds to provide to public officials in order to influence them in Great Lakes’
favor.
123. Great Lakes benefited from the corrupt activities of VinCore, Garibaldi, Carbone,
M2J1, Burlwood and Calabrese by, among other things, being selected for the Ameritrust project
and receiving $3,000,000 for work worth substantially less money.
124. But for the corruption in its dealing with Cuyahoga County, Great Lakes would
not have been selected and would have been paid less.
125. But for the corruption in its dealing with Cuyahoga County, Great Lakes would
not have selected the Ameritrust site as the best site for Cuyahoga County to pursue.
126. Selection of the Ameritrust site cost Cuyahoga County millions of dollars it
should not have had to incur.
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127. As part of the purchase of the Ameritrust site, Cuyahoga County needed
additional parking.
128. Oppmann and Prospect owned a parking garage in close proximity to the
Ameritrust site (“Parking Garage”).
129. Oppmann and Cuyahoga County began negotiations regarding a purchase by
Cuyahoga County of the Parking Garage.
130. Oppmann was aware that Steven Pumper (“Pumper”) was part of then
Commissioner Dimora’s inner circle.
131. Oppmann contacted Pumper because he was having issues with Cuyahoga County
regarding the sale of the Parking Garage.
132. Oppmann told Pumper that he wanted to sell the Parking Garage but that
Cuyahoga County was dragging its feet and he asked Pumper to get the sale pushed through.
133. Pumper told Oppmann that he would need money to get the sale pushed through.
134. Oppmann agreed to pay Pumper $250,000 from the sales proceeds of the Parking
Garage if Pumper got Cuyahoga County to close the purchase.
135. The agreement for $250,000 to be paid was an oral agreement and there are no
letters or writings of any kind evidencing the terms of the agreement.
136. Oppmann called Pumper several times to encourage him to get the deal going.
137. Pumper talked to then Commissioner Dimora and told him that if he got the deal
for the purchase of the Parking Garage moving as Oppmann requested, Pumper would give
Dimora $35,000 because Pumper was helping Oppmann.
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138. The sale of the Parking Garage was consummated with the Garage Contract
entered on May 29, 2007 between Cuyahoga County, Oppmann and Prospect (“Garage
Contract”).
139. The Garage Contract required Cuyahoga County to pay Oppmann and Prospect
$5,145,000.
140. The Garage Contract was finalized at a price higher than Cuyahoga County’s
appraised value of the Parking Garage.
141. The sale of the Parking Garage was closed and Oppmann was satisfied that
Pumper had kept his end of the oral bargain and agreed the $250,000 was owed to Pumper.
142. Pumper began making payments to then Commissioner Dimora, as agreed, after
the sale of the Parking Garage was completed.
143. Pumper asked Oppmann not to pay Pumper directly.
144. Oppmann agreed to help Pumper hide the payments.
145. Pumper requested that the $250,000 be paid in part to his father, in part to the
company he worked for, DAS Construction Company (“DAS”), and the rest to the owner of the
nightclub Anatomy, MEV.
146. Oppmann paid Pumper’s father even though he provided no services for the
payment.
147. Oppmann requested, and Pumper’s father agreed, to generate a false invoice to
Oppmann in the amount of $50,000 for government relations work.
148. Oppmann paid DAS even though DAS had not provided services for the payment.
149. Oppmann agreed to and did make the three payments to Pumper as requested by
Pumper.
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150. Pumper was a silent partner in Anatomy.
151. Anatomy was in need of a bank loan and did not have the assets to support a loan.
152. In order to get the loan, Pumper asked Oppmann to give $180,000 of the
$250,000 to MEV to be passed along to Anatomy.
153. Oppmann agreed that Anatomy and/or MEV would give Oppmann a promissory
note and then once Anatomy and/or MEV had a bank loan, the $180,000 would be withdrawn
from Anatomy and/or MEV by Pumper and Oppmann would destroy the promissory note.
154. Oppmann was aware that the only purpose to the fake promissory note was to
make the loan to Anatomy and/or MEV appear legitimate.
155. The fake promissory note was purportedly signed in August of 2007 and did not
require payments until March of 2009.
156. The payments on the fake promissory note therefore were not due until after the
Cuyahoga County corruption scandal was generally known.
157. There was no security taken by Oppmann for the loan that had no payments on it
for two years.
158. Oppmann performed no due diligence on MEV and/or on Anatomy before
making the $180,000 loan.
159. The $180,000 was not a legitimate loan and the payments to Pumper’s father and
DAS were not payments for legitimate debts, but rather a way to hide the payment to Pumper for
his having engaged in corruption to benefit Oppmann and Prospect.
160. As a result of the bribes paid to Pumper and others, Cuyahoga County paid more
under the Garage Contract than it should have.
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COUNT ONE
(Violation of R.C. § 309.12—All Defendants)
161. Cuyahoga County realleges and reavers all of the allegations contained in the
foregoing Paragraphs of this Complaint.
162. All Defendants received public funds for which they were not entitled.
163. The receipt of the public funds by all Defendants was in violation of R.C.
§§309.12 and 309.13.
164. Cuyahoga County has sustained damage as a result of Defendants’ conduct.
165. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ violations of R.C. §§309.12 and
309.13, all Defendants are liable to Cuyahoga County in an amount to be proven at trial in excess
of $25,000, plus interest, costs and all other remedies provided under R.C. §§309.12 and 309.13.
COUNT TWO
(Breach of Contract – Great Lakes)
166. Cuyahoga County realleges and reavers all of the allegations contained in the
foregoing Paragraphs of this Complaint.
167. Cuyahoga County has fully performed according to the terms of the Cuyahoga
County Contract.
168. Great Lakes has breached the Cuyahoga County Contract.
169. As a direct and proximate result of Great Lakes’ breach, Cuyahoga County is
entitled to recover from Great Lakes damages in an amount to be proven at trial in excess of
$25,000, plus interest and costs.
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COUNT THREE
(Unjust Enrichment—All Defendants)
170. Cuyahoga County realleges and reavers all of the allegations contained in the
foregoing Paragraphs of this Complaint.
171. Cuyahoga County conferred a benefit upon all Defendants.
172. All Defendants had knowledge of the benefit conferred by Cuyahoga County.
173. All Defendants have been unjustly enriched by the benefit conferred upon them
by Cuyahoga County and have retained the benefit under circumstances where it would be unjust
for them to retain that benefit and would be to the detriment of Cuyahoga County.
174. As a direct and proximate result of their unjust enrichment, all Defendants are
liable to Cuyahoga County in an amount to be proven at trial in excess of $25,000, plus interest
and costs.
COUNT FOUR
(Fraud – Great Lakes)
175. Cuyahoga County realleges and reavers all of the allegations contained in the
foregoing Paragraphs of this Complaint.
176. Great Lakes had a duty to disclose important and material facts to Cuyahoga
County regarding its work for Cuyahoga County.
177. Despite this duty, Great Lakes and/or its agents acted in contravention of law,
illegally, corruptly and fraudulently to procure the Cuyahoga County Contract, to select the
Ameritrust site and to procure the Cease Work Contract.
178. Great Lakes knew it and/or its agents were concealing material facts from
Cuyahoga County, and did so with the intent to mislead Cuyahoga County.
22
179. Great Lakes knew Cuyahoga County was relying on Great Lakes and its agents to
be truthful and complete.
180. Cuyahoga County’s reliance upon Great Lakes and its agents’ conduct and
concealment was justifiable and reasonable.
181. As a direct and proximate result of its fraud and corruption upon Cuyahoga
County, including the concealment of important and material facts, Great Lakes is liable to
Cuyahoga County in an amount to be proven at trial in excess of $25,000, plus interest, costs and
attorney fees.
COUNT FIVE
(Breach of Fiduciary Duty—Great Lakes)
182. Cuyahoga County realleges and reavers all of the allegations contained in the
foregoing Paragraphs of this Complaint.
183. Great Lakes had a fiduciary relationship and duty to Cuyahoga County and
breached and/or failed to observe that duty.
184. Great Lakes’ breach of fiduciary duty directly and proximately caused damage to
Cuyahoga County.
185. As a direct and proximate result of Great Lakes’ breach of fiduciary duty, Great
Lakes is liable to Cuyahoga County for damages in an amount to be proven at trial in excess of
$25,000, plus interest and costs.
COUNT SIX
(Fraud in the Inducement—Great Lakes)
186. Cuyahoga County realleges and reavers all of the allegations contained in the
foregoing Paragraphs of this Complaint.
187. Great Lakes entered into the Cease Work Contract with the Cuyahoga County.
23
188. Great Lakes had a duty to disclose important and material facts to Cuyahoga
County regarding the Cease Work Contract, and had a duty not to mislead or misstate material
facts related to the Cease Work Contract.
189. Great Lakes knew that it was committing a fraud upon Cuyahoga County by
concealing material facts and/or providing misleading and/or misstated facts related to the Cease
Work Contract with the intent to mislead Cuyahoga County.
190. Great Lakes knew Cuyahoga County was relying on Great Lakes to be truthful
and complete with regard to the Cease Work Contract.
191. Cuyahoga County’s reliance upon Defendant Great Lakes’ conduct and
concealment was justifiable and reasonable.
192. As a direct and proximate result of its fraud upon Cuyahoga County, including the
concealment, misleading, and misstatement of important and material facts, Great Lakes is liable
to Cuyahoga County in an amount to be proven at trial in excess of $25,000, plus interest, costs
and attorney fees.
COUNT SEVEN
(Declaratory Judgment-Great Lakes)
193. Cuyahoga County realleges and reavers all of the above allegations contained in
the foregoing Paragraphs of this Complaint.
194. Great Lakes induced the Cuyahoga County to enter into the Cease Work Contract
through fraud.
195. The Cease Work Contract was entered into as a result of the fraud committed by
Great Lakes against Cuyahoga County and, as a result, the Cease Work Contract is null and void.
24
196. Great Lakes and Cuyahoga County dispute the enforceability of the Cease Work
Contract; therefore, a justiciable controversy exists between the parties as to whether the Cease
Work Contract is enforceable.
197. Cuyahoga County hereby requests pursuant to R.C. §2721 et seq., that this Court
declare the Cease Work Contract null and void and unenforceable between the Cuyahoga County
and Great Lakes.
COUNT EIGHT
(Fraud-Oppmann and Prospect)
198. Cuyahoga County realleges and reavers all of the allegations contained in the
foregoing Paragraphs of this Complaint.
199. Oppmann and Prospect had a duty to disclose important and material facts to
Cuyahoga County regarding the Garage Contract, but instead Oppman and Prospect acted in
contravention of law, illegally, corruptly and fraudulently to procure the Garage Contract and to
conceal material facts.
200. Oppmann and Prospect knew that they were concealing material facts from
Cuyahoga County and did so with the intent to mislead Cuyahoga County.
201. Oppman and Prospect knew Cuyahoga County was relying on Oppman and
Prospect to be truthful and complete with regard to the Garage Contract.
202. Cuyahoga County’s reliance upon Oppman and Prospect was justifiable and
reasonable.
203. As a direct and proximate result of Oppman and Prospect’s fraud, including the
concealment of important and material facts, Oppman and Prospect are liable to Cuyahoga
County in an amount to be proven at trial in excess of $25,000, plus interest, costs and attorney
fees.
25
COUNT NINE
(Violation of the Ohio Corrupt Practices Act—Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo,
VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and M2J1)
204. Cuyahoga County realleges and reavers the allegations in the foregoing
Paragraphs.
205. Cuyahoga County and Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore,
Garibaldi Holdings, and M2J1 are persons under the Ohio Corrupt Practices Act (“OCPA”), also
known as R.C. § 2923.31(G).
206. Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and M2J1
along with other persons constituted an “enterprise” as that term is defined under the OCPA in
that they were a group of persons associated in fact.
207. The enterprise constituted an ongoing organization with a formal and/or informal
framework or organizational structure whose members functioned as a continuing unit with a
common purpose of achieving the objectives of the enterprise.
208. The structure of the enterprise featured a purpose, relationships among those
associated with the enterprise, and longevity sufficient to permit those associated with the
enterprise to pursue the enterprise’s purpose.
209. The purpose of the enterprise was to use the power and influence of Cuyahoga
County public officials for the personal and financial benefit of Great Lakes, Jones Lang,
Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and M2J1.
210. The enterprise existed separate and distinct from Great Lakes, Jones Lang,
Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and M2J1.
211. Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and
M2J1were associated with the enterprise.
26
212. The enterprise existed separate and distinct from the pattern of corrupt activity,
insofar as each associate of the enterprise engaged in some lawful activity that is not at issue in
this case.
213. The enterprise is complicit in the pattern of corrupt activity.
214. Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and
M2J1, their employees, agents and associated third parties did attempt to, and did conspire to
conduct and/or participate in the affairs of the enterprise through a pattern of corrupt activity in
violation of R.C. §2923.32(A)(1).
215. The pattern of corrupt activity was, in part, targeted toward obtaining the
Cuyahoga County Contract, and securing the purchase of the Ameritrust site.
216. Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and
M2J1, either firsthand or by and through their respective employees, agents and/or associated
third parties, engaged in, attempted to engage in, conspired to engage in, and/or solicited others
to engage in two or more incidents of corrupt activity, specifically including, but not limited to,
conduct constituting violations of R.C. §2921.02 (“Bribery”); R.C. §2921.03 (“Intimidation”);
R.C. §1315.55 (“Money Laundering”); R.C. §2923.31(I)(1) (“Racketeering”); and R.C. §2921.32
(“Obstructing Justice”).
217. Pursuant to R.C. §2923.02 (“Attempt”), Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo,
VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and M2J1 purposefully and/or knowingly engaged in, or used
other persons to engage in conduct that, if successful, would have the effect of violating of R.C.
§2921.02 (“Bribery”); R.C. §2921.03 (“Intimidation”); R.C. §1315.55 (“Money Laundering”);
R.C. §2923.31(I)(1) (“Racketeering”); and R.C. §2921.32 (“Obstructing Justice”).
27
218. Pursuant to R.C. §2923.01 (“Conspiracy”), Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent
Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and M2J1 did, with a purpose to commit, promote, or
facilitate a pattern of corrupt activity, plan or assist in planning conduct, or agree that one of
them would engage in conduct that, if successful, would have the effect of violating R.C.
§2921.02 (“Bribery”); R.C. §2921.03 (“Intimidation”); R.C. §1315.55 (“Money Laundering”);
R.C. §2923.31(I)(1) (“Racketeering”); and R.C. §2921.32 (“Obstructing Justice”). To this end,
the overt acts specified herein were taken by Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore,
Garibaldi Holdings, and M2J1, or someone with whom Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo,
VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and M2J1.
219. Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and
M2J1, knowingly and by force, and through the enterprise, attempted to, conspired to and did
influence public officials in the discharge of their duties, which constitutes Intimidation and/or
Bribery, attempted Intimidation and/or Bribery and/or Conspiracy to commit Bribery and/or
Intimidation.
220. Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and M2J1
attempted to, conspired to and did conduct one or more transactions with the knowledge and
purpose to promote, manage, establish, further, carry on, or facilitate the promotion,
management, establishment, or carrying on of corrupt activity, which constitutes Money
Laundering, attempted Money Laundering and/or Conspiracy to commit Money Laundering.
221. Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and M2J1
attempted to, conspired to and did destroy or conceal physical evidence of the pattern of corrupt
activity in order to hinder the discovery of the corrupt activity, which constitutes Obstruction of
Justice, attempted Obstruction of Justice and/or Conspiracy to commit Obstruction of Justice.
28
222. Great Lakes’ and Jones Lang’s agent Calabrese used his political influence to
bribe members of county government to award them the Cuyahoga County Contract and to enter
into the Cease Work Contract.
223. Following Great Lakes and Jones Lang receiving $3.0 million from Cuyahoga
County, Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and/or M2J1,
through one or more persons and entities caused approximately $99,000.00 to be paid to
Burlwood to reward Great Lakes’ agent Calabrese.
224. Great Lakes and Jones Lang, through its agent Calabrese, promised Kelly that if
he helped them he would receive something of value.
225. On or about October 26, 2005, after Great Lakes and Jones Lang received
$3,000,000, Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and/or
M2J1, through one or more persons or entities, caused $70,000.00 to be paid to Kevin Kelley or
on his behalf.
226. Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and M2J1
have and continue to attempt to conceal their involvement and complicity in the corrupt activity
by destroying records from the relevant time periods and from individuals with knowledge of
their bad acts.
227. Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and M2J1
each had reason to know or should have known that their employees, agents and/or
representatives were conspiring with others to commit the offenses specified above.
228. Pursuant to R.C. §2923.03 (“Complicity”), Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent
Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and M2J1 were complicit in the acts of their employees,
agents and/or representatives, such as Calabrese and Kelley, insofar as they solicited and/or
29
procured Calabrese and Kelley to exert influence and/or intimidation upon public officials in
exchange for monetary gain from the procurement of the Cuyahoga County Contract and the
Cease Work Contract.
229. Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and M2J1
have knowingly received proceeds derived directly and/or indirectly from the pattern of corrupt
activity, and have used the specified proceeds in the operation of the enterprise, in violation of
R.C. § 2923.32(A)(3).
230. Cuyahoga County has been injured through Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent
Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, and M2J1’s violation of R.C. § 2923.32, and are therefore
eligible to bring this action pursuant to R.C. § 2923.34 and are allowed all damages recoverable
by law.
COUNT TEN
(Civil Conspiracy— Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi
Holdings, and M2J1)
231. Cuyahoga County realleges and reavers all of the allegations contained in the
foregoing Paragraphs of this Complaint.
232. Defendants Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi
Holdings, and M2J1, along with other persons (the “Co-Conspirators”), constituted a malicious
combination of two or more persons with the intent to injure Cuyahoga County.
233. Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, M2J1 and
the Co-Conspirators intentionally conspired to obtain and inflate the price of the Cuyahoga
County Contract and the Cease Work Contract for their own personal gain.
30
234. Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, M2J1 and
the Co-Conspirators had a common understanding or design to obtain and inflate the price of
Cuyahoga County Contract and the Cease Work Contract for their own personal gain.
235. Cuyahoga County has been damaged by the tortious conduct of Great Lakes,
Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings, M2J1 and the Co-Conspirators in an
amount to be determined at trial, in excess of $25,000.00, punitive damages due to the malicious
and intentional nature of Great Lakes, Jones Lang, Vincent Russo, VinCore, Garibaldi Holdings,
and M2J1’s conduct, reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs and expenses.
COUNT ELEVEN
(Violation of the Ohio Corrupt Practices Act— Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy)
236. Cuyahoga County realleges and reavers all of the allegations contained in the
foregoing Paragraphs of this Complaint.
237. Cuyahoga County and Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy are persons under
the Ohio Corrupt Practices Act (“OCPA”), also known as R.C. §2923.31(G).
238. Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy along with other persons constituted an
“enterprise” as that term is defined under the OCPA in that they were a group of persons
associated in fact.
239. The enterprise constituted an ongoing organization with a formal and/or informal
framework or organizational structure whose members functioned as a continuing unit with a
common purpose of achieving the objectives of the enterprise.
240. The structure of the enterprise featured a purpose, relationships among those
associated with the enterprise, and longevity sufficient to permit those associated with the
enterprise to pursue the enterprise’s purpose.
31
241. The purpose of the enterprise was to use the power and influence of public
officials for the personal and financial benefit of Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy.
242. The enterprise existed separate and distinct from Oppman, Prospect, MEV and
Anatomy.
243. Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy were associated with the enterprise.
244. The enterprise existed separate and distinct from the pattern of corrupt activity,
insofar as each associate of the enterprise engaged in some lawful activity that is not at issue in
this case.
245. The enterprise is complicit in the pattern of corrupt activity.
246. Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy, their employees, agents and associated
third parties did, did attempt to, and did conspire to conduct and/or participate in the affairs of
the enterprise through a pattern of corrupt activity in violation of R.C. §2923.32(A)(1).
247. The pattern of corrupt activity was, in part, targeted toward obtaining the Garage
Contract.
248. Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy, either firsthand or by and through their
respective employees, agents and/or associated third parties, engaged in, attempted to engage in,
conspired to engage in, and/or solicited others to engage in two or more incidents of corrupt
activity, specifically including, but not limited to, conduct constituting violations of R.C.
§2921.02 (“Bribery”); R.C. §2921.03 (“Intimidation”); R.C. §1315.55 (“Money Laundering”);
R.C. §2923.31(I)(1) (“Racketeering”); and R.C. §2921.32 (“Obstructing Justice”).
249. Pursuant to R.C. §2923.02 (“Attempt”), Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy
purposefully and/or knowingly engaged in, or used other persons to engage in, conduct that, if
successful, would have the effect of violating of R.C. §2921.02 (“Bribery”); R.C. §2921.03
32
(“Intimidation”); R.C. §1315.55 (“Money Laundering”); R.C. §2923.31(I)(1) (“Racketeering”);
and R.C. §2921.32 (“Obstructing Justice”).
250. Pursuant to R.C. §2923.01 (“Conspiracy”), Oppman, Prospect, MEV and
Anatomy did, with purpose to commit, promote, or facilitate a pattern of corrupt activity, plan or
assist in planning conduct, or agree that one of them would engage in conduct that, if successful,
would have the effect of violating R.C. §2921.02 (“Bribery”); R.C. §2921.03 (“Intimidation”);
R.C. §1315.55 (“Money Laundering”); R.C. §2923.31(I)(1) (“Racketeering”); and R.C. §2921.32
(“Obstructing Justice”). To this end, the overt acts specified herein were taken by Oppman,
Prospect, MEV and Anatomy or someone with whom Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy
conspired.
251. Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy, knowingly and by force, and through the
enterprise, attempted to, conspired to and did influence public officials in the discharge of their
duties, which constitutes Intimidation and/or Bribery, attempted Intimidation and/or Bribery
and/or Conspiracy to commit Bribery and/or Intimidation.
252. Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy attempted to, conspired to and did
conduct one or more transactions with the knowledge and purpose to promote, manage, establish,
further, carry on, or facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, or carrying on of
corrupt activity, which constitutes Money Laundering, attempted Money Laundering and/or
Conspiracy to commit Money Laundering.
253. Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy attempted to, conspired to and did destroy
or conceal physical evidence of the pattern of corrupt activity in order to hinder the discovery of
the corrupt activity, which constitutes Obstruction of Justice, attempted Obstruction of Justice
and/or Conspiracy to commit Obstruction of Justice.
33
254. Oppman and Prospect asked Pumper to use his political influence to bribe
members of county government to award them the Garage Contract in exchange for personal
gain.
255. Following Oppman and Prospect obtaining the Garage Contract on May 29, 2007,
Oppman and Prospect were paid $5,145,000 from Cuyahoga County.
256. Oppman and Prospect then paid, for the benefit of Pumper, $250,000, which
would include payments to be made by Pumper to then Commissioner Dimora for securing the
Garage Contract.
257. Through a complex scheme as stated herein, bribe monies were passed through
Pumper’s father, DAS, MEV and Anatomy.
258. Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy have and continue to attempt to conceal
their involvement and complicity in the corrupt activity by destroying records from the relevant
time periods and from individuals with knowledge of their bad acts.
259. Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy each had reason to know that their
employees, agents and/or representatives were conspiring with others to commit the offenses
specified above.
260. Pursuant to R.C. § 2923.03 (“Complicity”), Oppman, Prospect, MEV and
Anatomy were complicit in the acts of their employees, agents and/or representatives, such as
Pumper, insofar as they solicited and/or procured Pumper to exert influence and/or intimidation
upon public officials in exchange for monetary gain from the procurement of the Garage
Contract.
34
261. Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy have knowingly received proceeds
derived directly and/or indirectly from the pattern of corrupt activity, and have used the specified
proceeds in the operation of the enterprise, in violation of R.C. §2923.32(A)(3).
262. Cuyahoga County has been injured through Oppman, Prospect, MEV and
Anatomy’s aforesaid violation of R.C. §2923.32, and are therefore eligible to bring this action
pursuant to R.C. §2923.34 and are allowed all damages recoverable by law.
COUNT TWELVE
(Civil Conspiracy— Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy)
263. Cuyahoga County realleges and reavers all of the allegations contained in the
foregoing Paragraphs of this Complaint.
264. Oppman, Prospect, MEV and Anatomy, along with other persons (the “Co-
Conspirators”), constituted a malicious combination of two or more persons with the intent to
injure Cuyahoga County.
265. Oppman, Prospect, MEV, Anatomy and the Co-Conspirators intentionally
conspired to insure the sale of the garage, and to obtain and inflate the price of the Garage
Contract.
266. Oppman, Prospect, MEV, Anatomy and the Co-Conspirators had a common
understanding or design to obtain and insure the sale of the garage, and inflate the price of the
Garage for their own personal gain.
267. Cuyahoga County has been damaged by the tortious conduct of Oppman,
Prospect, MEV, Anatomy and the Co-Conspirators in an amount to be determined at trial, in
excess of $25,000.00, punitive damages due to the malicious and intentional nature of Oppman,
Prospect, MEV and Anatomy’s conduct, reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs and expenses.
35
COUNT THIRTEEN
(Civil Liability for Criminal Acts—All Defendants)
268. Cuyahoga County realleges and reavers all of the allegations contained in the
foregoing Paragraphs of this Complaint.
269. All Defendants engaged in criminal acts, including but not limited to, violations
of R.C. §2921.02 (“Bribery”); R.C. §2921.03 (“Intimidation”); R.C. §1315.55 (“Money
Laundering”); R.C. §2923.31(I)(1) (“Racketeering”); and R.C. §2921.32 (“Obstructing Justice”).
270. That Cuyahoga County is entitled to recover damages in an amount to be proven
at trial in excess of $25,000, plus interest, costs and attorney fees from each Defendant caused by
their criminal act(s) pursuant to R.C. §2307.60.
WHEREFORE, Cuyahoga County respectfully requests judgment against Defendants as
follows:
1. For compensatory damages against all Defendants in excess of $25,000 plus
prejudgment and post judgment interest;
2. For punitive damages;
3. For triple the amount of actual damages pursuant to the Ohio Corrupt Practices
Act;
4. For Cuyahoga County’s reasonable attorney fees, costs and expenses;
5. For a declaratory judgment declaring the Cease Work Contract null and void; and
6. For all other relief which this Court deems equitable and just.
36
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Kerin Lyn Kaminski
Karen L. Giffen (0042663)
Kerin Lyn Kaminski (0013522)
Wm. Joseph Baker (0072845)
GIFFEN & KAMINSKI LLC 1300 East Ninth Street, Suite 1600
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Telephone: (216) 621-5161
Facsimile: (216) 621-2399
E-Mail: [email protected]
/s/ Donald W. Davis, Jr.
Donald W. Davis, Jr. (0030559)
BRENNAN, MANNA & DIAMOND LLC 75 East Market Street
Akron, Ohio 44308
Telephone: (330) 253-5060
Facsimile: (330) 253-1977
Email: [email protected]
/s/ Joseph W. Boatwright, IV
Joseph W. Boatwright, IV (0078304)
Cuyahoga County Department of Law
1219 Ontario Street, 4th Floor
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 698-6464 (Telephone)
(216) 698-2744 (Facsimile)
[Representation and designation pursuant to
August 27, 2013 Agreement governing the
division of duties between the Cuyahoga
County Prosecutor’s Office and Department
of Law]
Attorneys for Cuyahoga County
37
JURY DEMAND
Cuyahoga County hereby demands a trial by jury of all issues so triable.
/s/ Kerin Lyn Kaminski
Kerin Lyn Kaminski (0013522)