Former Granite Park developer Milt Barbis, who claims an investigation into alleged insurance fraud put him out of business, has filed a lawsuit seeking huge damages from the city of Fresno and others.
An attorney for Barbis, who developed Granite Park's restaurants and sports complex, said damages in the complaint filed recently in U.S. District Court could total "hundreds of millions of dollars," but estimated the case would take "years and years" to reach trial.
A status hearing on the case is scheduled in Fresno's federal court in October, attorney Richard Hamlish said.
The complaint names four defendants: the city of Fresno; Fresno police officer Brendan Rhames; Georgeanne White, the Fresno mayor's chief of staff; and Ben Rodriguez, an employee with the state Department of Insurance.
