Ellsworth landowner sues township over wrongful interference

YOUNGSTOWN — An Ellsworth Township man and his company have sued the township and its deputy zoning inspector, seeking more than $25,000 in compensatory damages and a court order barring the township from what the plaintiffs call “wrongful interference” with lawful use of company property.

The lawsuit was filed last week in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court by Basista Holdings LLC and David J. Lewis, both of 5620 Gault Road, against Ellsworth Township and Michal P. Kurilla Jr.

The complaint concerns an 18-acre property on state Route 45 and the 5-acre property on Gault Road, both owned by Basista, of which Lewis is the sole owner.

The new complaint says Kurilla’s 2012 lawsuit against Basista, which seeks to compel Basista to cease alleged township zoning violations, is an attempt “to harass and annoy” Lewis and Basista and to improperly deny them their legal right to use the Route 45 property according to its industrial zoning.

Kurilla’s lawsuit is still pending in common pleas court.

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com