Suit filed over sale of Hard Rock land

Thursday, April 29, 1999 | 12:14 p.m.

A local investment company that says it acquired a stake in a limited partnership has filed suit in District Court against the majority partner.

Ommen Inc. is seeking more than $10,000 in general damages and more than $10,000 in punitive damages from Lowden Investment Co. and the Paradise & Harmon Limited Partnership.

Lowden Investment, headed by Santa Fe Gaming Corp. head Paul Lowden, was in a partnership with California-based Vooch Associates in Paradise & Harmon LP, whose sole asset was a lot at Paradise Road and Harmon Avenue.

In 1994, the limited partnership sold the lot to the company that ultimately developed the Hard Rock hotel-casino.

According to the suit, Ommen purchased Vooch's limited partnership role on Oct. 15, 1993. Ommen says Lowden Investment now won't permit it to review the land transaction or share the proceeds. According to the suit, Lowden Investment held an 83.5 percent stake in the limited partnership and Vooch held 16.5 percent when it was acquired by Ommen.

Ommen's suit also seeks a court order declaring Ommen as the substituted limited partner and an accounting of the Paradise & Harmon LP books.

Representatives for Lowden Investment could not be reached for comment today.

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