Dayton Sports Complex sues former UD star
The owners of the Dayton Sports Complex are suing former University of Dayton basketball great Chris Wright for what they allege was breach of contract, and the case has a jury trial scheduled for June.
The suit filed in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court last year alleges that Wright and his business entities — Flyght Academy LLC and the Wright Way Foundation — used the Dayton Sports Complex at 4801 Salem Ave. in Trotwood “for many hours of basketball training, general athletic training and games. Defendants’ use of the Dayton Sports Complex during this time was extensive.”
The suit further alleges that “despite extensive use of the facility, defendants failed to pay rent to plaintiffs as promised.”
The plaintiffs said in their complaint that Wright and his entities had an option to buy the sports complex. The plaintiffs are Lawrence Jackson and Eileen Jackson and
their limited liability company, Kalm Properties, owners of the complex property.
In a response, Wright acknowledged using the complex “at times” from October of 2019 to March 2020.
But Wright and his attorneys also argued in filings that “throughout the period from October of 2019 to March of 2020, defendants were told by plaintiffs on multiple occasions that rent
payments would be waived or subject to forebearance so long as defendants agreed to exercise the option to purchase the Dayton Sports Complex.”
“In March of 2020, plaintiffs precluded defendants from exercising the option to purchase by excluding the defendants from the premises and breaching the joint venture agreement prior to May 1, 2020, which was the
earliest date by which the defendant could exercise their option to purchase,” Wright’s answer also stated.
“Defendants failed to pay rent on information and belief that plaintiffs had chosen to waive or forebear collection of such rental payments due to the expectation that defendants would exercise their option to purchase the Dayton Sports Complex,” Wright’s answer to the lawsuit stated.
Wright and his attorney denied that the rental payments due exceed $69,026.22. “Plaintiffs have calculated the rental payments using erroneous and flawed methodologies to maximize the amount owed,” they said.
Replying, the plaintiffs denied “that they ever informed defendants that rent payments would be waived or subject to forbearance.”
Reached Friday morning, Christopher Nalls, the Dayton attorney who represents Wright, characterized the case’s current status as “pending.” The parties are going through a discovery process, he said.
“I can’t say we’re on the cusp of a settlement,” he added. “That’s going too far.”
“I think Chris’ reputation speaks for itself. When you become successful ... you become a target for legal actions,” Nalls also said.
Messages seeking comment were left for T. Andrew Vollmar, the attorney for Kalm Properties.
Eileen Jackson referred questions to her attorney and her husband.
The most recent docket entries in the case are notices of failure to serve or mail documents. A trial is set for June 7.
The Dayton Daily News reported earlier this week that a company linked to Wright has purchased United Theological Seminary property in Trotwood for $225,000.
The plan is to develop the property into a community sports center, but probably not until the global pandemic is better controlled, Dr. Kent Millard, president of the seminary, told this news outlet.
Flyght Development LLC, incorporated by Wright last January, is the purchasing entity.
Purchase of the property at 4501 Denlinger Road comes with more than 21 acres. The seminary campus is closed now due to the pandemic.