In wake of SMU’s settlement with former condominium owners over land disputes regarding the Bush Library, another development has surfaced, crumbling the deal that was finalized last month.
Both sides of the lawsuit broke terms of a confidential agreement, according to The Dallas Morning News. Now, each side is pointing fingers at one another, disputing the four bullet points laid out in the filing. All terms of the agreement were kept confidential, but lawyers said the condominium owners would be paid in exchange for dropping their claims to the land in question.
DMN reported that according to SMU, Dr. Robert Tafel, the condominium owner, is trying to “extort more money” from the university by taking back promise to “settle all matters in dispute.”
According to Tafel’s lawyers and The Dallas Morning News, the university is trying to add more items to the settlement that were previously not mentioned. Tafel and property owner Gary Vodika continue to insist that SMU obtained the land “fraudulently,” since original plans for the use of the land were not disclosed.
Other issues discussed, according to DMN reports, include whether Tafel agreed to never sue the university and if SMU will agree to pay Tafel $300,000 in addition to the unannounced settlement amount.