Marco Denis sues Plaza Towers owner

Marco Denis, who previously owned Plaza Towers prior to a foreclosure sale earlier this year, has filed suit against the new ownership of the prominent building at Glenstone Avenue and Sunshine Street.

The suit filed Aug. 6 in Greene County Circuit Court by Denis and two of his companies – Springfield Property LLC and Plaza Towers Recreation LLC, dba C'est La Vie Rooftop Bar and Lounge – names defendants as Omant Accommodator I LLC, Trent Overhue and Kelia Turner. The 20-count petition alleges a range of claims, including the alleged seizure of $9.2 million in personal property, wrongful eviction, trademark infringement, computer tampering and misappropriation of trade secrets. Denis alleges the defendants changed locks, barred his employees, took control of websites, phone numbers and security systems, and intend to use the seized assets to operate similar businesses in the building.

Overhue, who declined to comment on the lawsuit when reached this morning, purchased the 10-story, 130,000-square-foot property for nearly $13.4 million in an April foreclosure sale. The lawsuit indicates Turner previously worked as a property manager for Springfield Property before transitioning to employment at Omant. 

Central to the lawsuit's claims are millions of dollars' worth of personal property that the plaintiffs allege were seized and remain in the Plaza Towers building. The suit alleges Omant, which was formed to buy the building in foreclosure, and Overhue denied the plaintiffs' ability to remove the personal property.

Marjorie M. Lewis, an attorney with Evans & Dixon LLC who is representing Denis in the lawsuit, was unavailable for comment by deadline on the full breakdown of items comprising the $9.2 million estimate.

The lawsuit notes an exhibit with a full accounting of the personal property is attached, but that exhibit is not available in online court records. The suit makes mention of personal property including computers, tenant files, vehicles and items that had been "intended to be used for the opening of the new restaurants, event center, rooftop bar and coffee shop."

Denis had been planning to open an event center, restaurant and coffee shop at Plaza Towers when he owned the building, according to past reporting. 

OMB Bank filed suit in March to start foreclosure proceedings, alleging Denis and Springfield Property were in default of the Plaza Towers loan and had not satisfied mechanic’s liens filed against the company. 

Denis’ improvements to Plaza Towers stalled in mid-July 2024, when he was arrested and jailed amid Greene County Circuit Court charges of domestic assault and kidnapping. In August last year, Denis was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly possessing eight firearms illegally and lying about his criminal record when buying two of the weapons.

Prior to his incarceration, Denis told SBJ in February 2024 that Springfield Property invested at least $7 million in renovations to Plaza Towers beyond the purchase price. At the time, he was targeting a spring launch for the 200-person event center, followed by the restaurant and coffee shop spaces.

“We go way over budget – way, way, way over budget,” Denis told SBJ last year.

The lawsuit filed this month seeks injunctive and other relief. An Aug. 11 notice indicates the court intends to order the plaintiffs to refile the petition and exhibits because they included unnecessary redacted information.