Updated Jan. 3, 2025, at 4:55 p.m.
Jeffrey Tolbert contacted The Tribune and provided the following statement by email: “These allegations in this classic extortion suit are false. This suit was filed on the heels of me choosing to retain a new real estate partner who is better suited and better networked for the clientele we will be serving with the Smith Lake Hotel and Golf project. My attorneys are handling this as I am focused on the Resort Project which will create tremendous economic impact and excitement for the entire state of Alabama and Cullman County.”
CULLMAN, Ala. – A local businesswoman, Melissa Gail Curtis, has filed a lawsuit against Jeffrey T. Tolbert, Smith Lake Resort LLC and Trident Marina LLC, alleging a series of grievances including assault, fraud and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Curtis owns Lake League Real Estate, while Tolbert owns Trident Marina and Smith Lake Resort LLC and is the chairman of the Cullman Tourism Bureau.
The verified complaint, filed on Dec. 30, 2024, in the Circuit Court of Cullman County, outlines a tumultuous series of alleged events spanning over a year. Curtis, a resident of Cullman County, asserts that she was misled and manipulated by Tolbert under the guise of a lucrative business partnership.
According to the lawsuit, Curtis first met Tolbert in September 2023 at a local restaurant to discuss his vision for a major resort development on Smith Lake. During this meeting, Tolbert allegedly painted a picture of a groundbreaking project that would generate significant financial returns. He allegedly promised Curtis commissions exceeding $10 million if she joined the venture.
Curtis, who was intrigued by the opportunity and motivated by the promise of financial gain, allegedly began dedicating her time and resources to the project. However, Curtis claims, the partnership was riddled with misrepresentation and deceit from the outset, leaving her feeling trapped and powerless as events unfolded.
The lawsuit describes a trip to Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri, arranged by Tolbert. Curtis alleges that Tolbert falsely portrayed the trip as an opportunity to showcase his vision for the Smith Lake Project. To her surprise and discomfort, she claims, she discovered upon arrival that Tolbert had arranged for them to share a single room with one bed. Curtis claims that Tolbert made unwanted physical advances during this trip, including pulling her onto his lap despite her objections.
This behavior, according to Curtis, marked the beginning of a pattern of inappropriate conduct. In subsequent interactions, Tolbert allegedly continued making advances, even engaging in public acts that left Curtis humiliated, she alleges. One such incident detailed in the lawsuit involved Tolbert taking watermelon from her hand with his mouth, an act she found deeply inappropriate and embarrassing. Despite Curtis’ repeated rebuffs, she alleges, Tolbert’s actions persisted, escalating her discomfort and emotional distress.
Curtis’ professional life, she said, centered on her successful real estate business, also suffered significant setbacks as a result of Tolbert’s conduct. The complaint alleges that several employees, including a key real estate broker, left her firm due to the upheaval caused by Tolbert’s actions and the reputational damage they inflicted. Curtis claims that Tolbert’s behavior not only undermined her credibility within the community, but also disrupted her ability to manage and grow her business effectively.
Adding to her distress, Curtis alleges, Tolbert’s insistence on intertwining personal and professional matters forced her to step back from her established career to focus on the Smith Lake Project. This shift, compounded by the alleged harassment, left her vulnerable to financial and emotional harm.
The lawsuit brings multiple counts against Tolbert and the companies he is allegedly intertwined with, including assault, fraud, breach of partnership agreement, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Curtis is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, asserting that the harm caused by Tolbert’s actions warrants significant legal redress. She has also requested that all costs and attorney’s fees incurred in bringing the case be covered by the defendants.
The complaint highlights the complexity of the case by alleging that Smith Lake Resort LLC and Trident Marina LLC are mere alter egos of Tolbert, used to further his personal interests. This assertion, if proven, could have wide-reaching implications for the legal responsibilities of business entities in similar cases.
This case has raised questions about professional integrity and personal boundaries within business relationships. The allegations have sparked discussions about the responsibilities of business leaders to maintain ethical conduct and the consequences of failing to do so.
With a jury trial requested, the lawsuit is set to proceed through the legal system, promising a potentially lengthy and contentious battle. The defendants have yet to respond publicly to the allegations, leaving many in the community eager to see how the case unfolds.
More on this story will be released as it becomes available.
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