By Kaitlyn Campbell
Last week, a judge ruled that a lawsuit over a suspended $25 million state government grant for a new health park in Clare can move forward toward trial.
The decision, made by Judge Mark Duthie from Isabella County, sets the stage for continued litigation that could shed light on the stalled Complete Health Park project in Clare, which is now under investigation by the state.
Duthie also rejected a request to dismiss the breach of contract lawsuit against the IW Consulting firm run by David Coker Jr., a one-time aide for former House Speaker Jason Wentworth, R-Farwell.
The grant was suspended by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services earlier this spring and they launched an investigation, citing possible double payments. Records indicate that Coker used his new Complete Health Park nonprofit to pay his IW Consulting firm more than $820,000 within days of getting government funding.
The lawsuit in Clare County was filed by Goldman Advisers, a consulting firm run by Anthony Demasi of Mount Pleasant, who is also currently accused of criminal bank fraud. He alleges that Coker hired him to work on the Clare health park project but paid only $37,500 on a $300,000 contract before terminating the agreement.
The suit includes a series of allegations, including a claim that Coker and Wentworth schemed to “skim off the grant money for the project for their personal gain and benefit.” Both Coker and Wentworth have denied this accusation.
In his new opinion, Judge Duthie dismissed broad fraud and civil conspiracy claims levied by Demasi, along with claims against Coker in his personal capacity. But now, the judge has allowed the breach of contract case against Coker’s IW Consulting firm to move forward, along with a claim of “tortious interference.”