Winnipeg developer faces $432K lawsuit

Winnipeg developer Andrew Marquess is facing a lawsuit from a non-bank lender now seeking a $432,000 payment.

According to a statement of claim filed on April 7 before Manitoba's Court of Queen's bench, Timbercreek Mortgage Servicing Inc. alleges Marquess agreed to pay the lender $366,000 plus interest on Dec. 1, 2015. Timbercreek alleges Marquess was asked to pay up in March but "has failed and/or refused to do so."

The allegations have not been proven in court and no statement of defence has been filed. Marquess declined to comment on Friday.

Richard Schwartz, the lawyer for the plaintiff, also declined to comment.

Marquess is the owner of several strategically important parcels of land in Winnipeg, including the former Fort Rouge Yards and a large section of the Parker neighbourhood. Both are located along the the Southwest Transitway and are expected to be transformed into transit-oriented housing developments.

Nearly a decade ago, the developer was the subject of a series of lawsuits. He said at the time he was impacted by the worldwide economic recession.