Ivory Lounge takes on condo owners in continuing lawsuit

The battle between a downtown Sarasota nightclub owner and his residential neighbors at 50 Central Ave. will continue in court after a judge’s action this week.

Circuit Court Judge Rochelle Curley on Tuesday denied Plaza at Five Point Condominium Association’s request to dismiss the lawsuit Ivory Lounge owner Ambrish Piare filed last year.

The suit claims condo owners have made false claims and defamed the bar in order to shut it down.

“Obviously, we’re very pleased,” said attorney Andrea Mogensen, who is representing Piare and his firm, Jarala Entertainment, in the suit. “We’ll begin to engage in discovery and proceed with litigation.”

In early 2014, the city of Sarasota rejected claims Plaza at Five Points residents made that the nightclub violated its conditional-use permit, deprived residents their right to quietly enjoy their units, lowered their property values and operated as an "adult cabaret." Mogenson said that complaint is just one of several “well-documented” incidents cited in the suit.

“The acts of the (Plaza at Five Points owners) were intentional, spiteful, malicious, without justification and made with a purpose to interfere with the Ivory Lounge’s lease and operations, harm business relationships and compel the city to revoke the bar’s permit," says the May 12 complaint.

In court documents, Plaza at Five Points counsel Scott Jackman doesn’t appear to object to the association’s conduct, but rather to the fact that the complaints haven’t resulted in the termination of Ivory lounge’s lease.

“It’s a little brazen — very bold," Mogenson said.

Piare has requested a trial by jury to settle the case.

“There’s nothing to win — all parties have already lost by getting to this point,” Piare said in a previous interview with the Sarasota Observer. “I don’t feel responsible whatsoever for us getting to this point; I have tried for two years to fix a problem that doesn’t exist. I have been fighting ghosts.”