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Developer sues county official over remarks
By JENNIFER GOLDBLATT, Times Staff Writer TRINITY -- The developer of Trinity has sued the county's parks and recreation director for defamation. Adam Smith Enterprises sued in Pasco County Circuit Court on Friday over remarks Jim Slaughter made last month to a Tampa Tribune reporter about the county's intent to build a park in Trinity. The story, which ran May 23, quoted Slaughter saying that the county has no current plans to build a park in Trinity and that Adam Smith's claims about a park in promotional materials are "dirty pool" and a "marketing ploy." In the story, Slaughter explains that the county owns 40 acres in Trinity, but has no plans to build a park there, because county parks require at least 80 acres. He also says that "Trinity residents get upset when they find out the county does not have plans for a park in the area." The story also quotes a Trinity spokeswoman as saying that references to a Trinity area county park would probably be removed from promotional materials. According to the suit, Adam Smith Enterprises deeded 40 acres to the county in May 2001 to be set aside for a park, as the county required them to do as part of the original development plans. The suit alleges that Slaughter was fully aware of that, and that he made the comments "maliciously and with intent to injure" Adam Smith Enterprises, and that the developer was "defamed" by those statements. The suit further alleges that Slaughter's remarks damaged the developer's reputation, and caused a loss of business and profits. The suit seeks damages in excess of $15,000. Slaughter told the Times Friday that even though Adam Smith gave the county the land to be set aside for a park, there's no time frame for when a park may be built there. "It's dependent on when there's dollars available, and there's a need to do so, and it fits within the master plan and growth plan." He pointed to a master plan for parks that the County Commission adopted last year, which recommended 80 acres as a minimum size for a regional county parks. Officials from Adam Smith Enterprises could not be reached for comment Friday. According to the suit, the story also ran in the Suncoast News. -- Times researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Jennifer Goldblatt covers business in Pasco County. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6229, toll free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6229 or at goldblatt@sptimes.com.
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