Lisa Johnson, owner of Tropical Twisters Gymnastics, filed an amended complaint against Cape Coral City Councilmember Eric Grill last week, responding to a motion from Grill’s lawyer to dismiss the case.
Johnson filed her original civil complaint against Grill in February, after lodging a criminal complaint with the Cape Coral Police Department, which was eventually passed on to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
The criminal investigation is ongoing.
Johnson contracted with Grill’s company, Grand Cape Construction, in November 2007 to build a 7,000-square-foot gymnasium in the north Cape. She made an initial $2,500 payment and took out a $46,500 loan from Partners Bank in June in order to pay Grand Cape.
Johnson claims Grill stopped returning her phone calls in August and failed to pay Honc Construction $20,000 for clearing and fill work done on the site. Honc subsequently placed a $20,000 lien on the property.
In December Johnson fired Grill and hired a new contractor.
The amended complaint provides more specifics and beefs up its claim to sue Grill personally, instead of Grand Cape Construction, Johnson said.
“Mostly it’s more detail because (Grill’s) attorney had asked for more detail,” she said.
Neither Johnson’s attorney, Curtright Truitt, nor Grill’s attorney, William Merchant, were available for comment Tuesday.
Grill has consistently declined to comment on the case publicly and did not return calls Tuesday.
A hearing for the case in front of Judge Michael McHugh is set for May 13.
Johnson expects McHugh to move forward with the case and throw out Grill’s motion.
“We have every confidence that (McHugh) will get rid of the motion to dismiss,” she said.