Tyler Perry, Feds & US Army Target of Fraud Lawsuit Over Atlanta Studio

Georgia Company Ubiquitous Entertainment Studios filed a lawsuit in last week in U.S. District Court against Tyler Perry, the U.S. Army, and a government authority working to redevelop Fort McPherson - situated south of downtown Atlanta - into a movie studio.

The studio alleges a Ubiquitous representative met with the authority's chairman in December 2011 to discuses the possibilities for a movie studio and entertainment complex. UES wanted to buy 80 acres of the 488-acre post, however plans for the purchase were put on hold, because the authority said it couldn't negotiate a purchase until it actually owned the the property sometime in 2014. 

The company says Perry tried to persuade the authority to negotiate a similar deal with his company instead. Under his proposal, Perry will buy much of property from the McPherson Implementing Local Redevelopment Authority for $33 million. 

The AP reports, "In effect, MILRA [McPherson Implementing Local Redevelopment Authority] confirmed an exclusive franchise or property interest in the Ft. McPherson property to Perry and [Tyler Perry Studios] on a non-bid, non-request for proposal basis, with no advance public notice to give UES and other potential property developers an opportunity to compete for this real estate development. These acts and omissions of MILRA in this regard were arbitrary and capricious government conduct."

In the deal, Perry is set to take control of 330 acres, the city is to receive as much as 144 acres (Reed has previously said the city will receive 125 acres) and the Veterans Affairs hospital to have about 40 acres.

Perry's representatives have so far declined to comment. 

via Defamer