Did anyone catch the TW article about the Sinclair Building today? Good news, we're getting closer to liberating it from the moron(ey) who owns it.
Moroney, for anyone not up-to-date with ironic names, is the slumlord who let the Tulsa Club fall into such terrible disrepair. He's also the reason that a prime piece of central downtown real estate sits practically vacant. (Nobody has leased the first floor retail space from him since Ike's Chili in 2002, despite the beautiful corner location at 5th and Main.)
http://www.tulsaworld.com/businesshomepage3/tulsa-s-historic-sinclair-building-could-soon-be-sold-at/article_086c5c5b-5906-5d87-a5f6-6db4b590c3f5.html?mode=jqm (http://www.tulsaworld.com/businesshomepage3/tulsa-s-historic-sinclair-building-could-soon-be-sold-at/article_086c5c5b-5906-5d87-a5f6-6db4b590c3f5.html?mode=jqm)
"Tulsa County District Judge Carlos Chappelle issued a final judgment against C.J. Morony last week authorizing the city of Tulsa and the Central Park Owners Association Inc. to move forward with the sale of the building at a sheriff's auction should they choose to do so. Morony has 30 days to appeal the judgment or make arrangements to pay the creditors. Senior Assistant City Attorney Bob Edmiston said Monday that the city will move forward with the sale of the Sinclair Building, 6 E. Fifth St., if Morony is unable to pay the approximately $234,000 he owes the city."
Good news, this building would be a great candidate for a residential conversion. What is the latest on the Tulsa Club?
Seriously ridiculous that it just sat there without the city doing anything about it for so long.
Quote from: davideinstein on June 04, 2014, 03:26:27 PM
Seriously ridiculous that it just sat there without the city doing anything about it for so long.
Amen...a shame. I feel like this building is key to a revitalized Main Street.
article is down for us freeloaders.
30 days has expired.
Did he appeal?
Did he pay up?
What's the next step?
Sinclair Building auction put on hold after owner files bankruptcyhttp://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/sinclair-building-auction-put-on-hold-after-owner-files-bankruptcy/article_0a8bb44b-b9e8-5fa6-8174-e7e2393cecf7.html (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/sinclair-building-auction-put-on-hold-after-owner-files-bankruptcy/article_0a8bb44b-b9e8-5fa6-8174-e7e2393cecf7.html)
QuoteThe sale of the historic Sinclair Building has been put on hold after the owner of the building filed for personal bankruptcy Monday afternoon, city officials said.
The building was to have been sold this morning at a Sheriff's Office auction.
The filing by California businessman C.J. Morony automatically places a stay on the proceedings, said Senior City Attorney Bob Edmiston.
Morony once owned the Tulsa Club building at 115 E. Fifth St.
That building was sold at auction last April for $460,000 after Morony failed to pay the city approximately $470,000 in remedial civil penalties, improvement district assessments and interest.
Just prior to that sale, Morony filed for bankruptcy twice in Nevada. He first put the building under an LLC and that entity filed for bankruptcy. He later filed personal bankruptcy.
Both bankruptcies were dismissed at the request of the city of Tulsa, and the sale of the building proceeded.
Edmiston said the city is considering its options but plans to "pursue it (the sale) diligently as we did his previous two bankruptcy filings."
The Sinclair Building is at 6 E. Fifth St.
Tulsa County District Judge Carlos Chappelle issued a final judgment against Morony in June authorizing the city of Tulsa and the Central Park Owners Association Inc. to move forward with the sale of the building at a sheriff's auction should they choose to do so.
At the time the final judgment was issued, Morony owed the city more than $234,000 in fees, taxes and penalties on the building, according to court documents. He also owed Central Park Owners Association $37,946.
The city's portion includes $176,207.65 in past-due downtown improvement district assessments, penalties and interest dating to 1996 as well as $57,938.55 in civil remedial penalties still owed by Morony on the Tulsa Club building.
Josh Barrett, president of Vesta Properties, purchased the Tulsa Club building with plans to restore its historic look and turn it into mixed-use development with a combination of commercial and residential components.
The building was recently put up for sale.
He pulled this same doodoo with the Tulsa Club, moving the property to an LLC and then that LLC declaring bankruptcy.
What a complete dooshnozzle.
Coming up for auction again in September.
He's BK'd twice on it already...let's hope it goes through this time. Please, to someone with the finances to do something with it.
(http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/tulsaworld.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/7a/27ab1492-4a20-5f3e-9e69-f58f310a2ad9/538d5a175d059.image.jpg)
PS - Someone buy the Club building and bring it back to life
Quote from: Townsend on July 31, 2015, 09:08:50 AM
Coming up for auction again in September.
He's BK'd twice on it already...let's hope it goes through this time. Please, to someone with the finances to do something with it.
(http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/tulsaworld.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/7a/27ab1492-4a20-5f3e-9e69-f58f310a2ad9/538d5a175d059.image.jpg)
PS - Someone buy the Club building and bring it back to life
One my favorite buildings downtown.
I wish I had the cashola to do something with it!
QuoteSinclair Building scheduled for auction for the fourth time
The city of Tulsa is making attempt No. 4 at selling the Sinclair Building.
The downtown Tulsa building at 6 E. Fifth Place has once again appeared on the list of properties scheduled to be sold at a sheriff's auction. This time, the Sinclair Building is scheduled for Dec. 22.
Each of the three previous attempts to sell the building were automatically stayed after bankruptcy filings by building owner C.J. Morony.
Officials at the city of Tulsa have said they took action to repossess the city due to unpaid taxes and other fees associated with the eight-story downtown property
.
Morony also filed for bankruptcy twice before another of his properties, the Tulsa Club building at 115 E. Fifth St., was eventually auctioned off.
In June 2014, Tulsa County District Judge Carlos Chappelle issued a final judgment against Morony authorizing the city of Tulsa and Central Park Owners Association Inc. to move forward with the sale of the Sinclair Building.
At the time, Morony owed the city more than $234,000 in fees, taxes and penalties on the building, according to court documents. He also owed the Central Park Owners Association $37,946.
The city's portion includes $176,207.65 in past-due downtown improvement district assessments, penalties and interest dating to 1996, as well as $57,938.55 in civil remedial penalties still owed by Morony on the Tulsa Club building.
The Tulsa Club building was sold at auction in April 2013 for $460,000 after Morony failed to pay the city about $470,000 in remedial civil penalties, improvement district assessments and interest.
Just before that sale, Morony filed for bankruptcy twice in Nevada. He first put the building under an LLC, and that entity filed for bankruptcy. He later filed personal bankruptcy.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/realestate/sinclair-building-scheduled-for-auction-for-the-fourth-time/article_f0979270-68c7-5cc4-82f8-57e851fd98ce.html
My question is: is the City pursuing any remedy against him in the Bankruptcy Courts? Frivolous filings can be sanctioned, and can even lead to the offender being barred from filing additional suits without permission from the Court (kill the automatic stay). The building will likely fetch more at auction than is currently owed - so you may as well pile on the fees.
Hope it goes through this time. Wish I had $1mil to leverage the ability to buy and then do something with that building!
I've followed these cases on ECF and OSCN for some time. The arguments are frivolous: Morony claims a homestead exemption on the property because he says he lives there. At this point, unless they filed something recently, the City has not sought sanctions or filing restrictions. Amazingly, the Oklahoma Supreme Court delayed this because of bankruptcy stay and other issues, even though it was obvious what was going on.
This is one of the single issues that could really change downtown for the better. Creating a little foot traffic there would stop some bad stuff.
This building could generate tons of money if it was occupied. Fill it up with apartments and first floor retail and it would create demand for even more nearby local retail and services for the residents living there. Its moronyic that it has remained empty for so long.
Quote from: Gold on December 09, 2015, 07:00:26 AM
I've followed these cases on ECF and OSCN for some time. The arguments are frivolous: Morony claims a homestead exemption on the property because he says he lives there. At this point, unless they filed something recently, the City has not sought sanctions or filing restrictions. Amazingly, the Oklahoma Supreme Court delayed this because of bankruptcy stay and other issues, even though it was obvious what was going on.
This is one of the single issues that could really change downtown for the better. Creating a little foot traffic there would stop some bad stuff.
Damn that's annoying. Actually, it is criminal. He doesn't live there and this is a fraudulent filing.
People whine and complain about frivolous use of the Courts, then do nothing even as they deal with it. SANCTION HIM, tack it on to the Judgment, foreclose on the property, sell it, keep as much of the money as possible. Hell, at this point one would expect the Court to act
sua sponte.
Quote from: cannon_fodder on December 09, 2015, 08:05:31 AM
Damn that's annoying. Actually, it is criminal. He doesn't live there and this is a fraudulent filing.
People whine and complain about frivolous use of the Courts, then do nothing even as they deal with it. SANCTION HIM, tack it on to the Judgment, foreclose on the property, sell it, keep as much of the money as possible. Hell, at this point one would expect the Court to act sua sponte.
At this point its up to the bankruptcy judge to show some balls and for the city attorneys to get aggressive. If he does it again and especially if he signs off on lies under oath, sanction him and bar him and any of his companies from bankruptcy for several years. It's one of the remedies for people who abuse the bankruptcy system with a series of frivolous filings. The state courts cannot legally proceed on a sale unless and until the bankruptcy court acts first to dissolve the automatic stay.
Years ago, when nobody could track him down related to the Tulsa Club building, a neighboring business owner said that when Moroney was in town, he would sleep in the Sinclair building at night. He'd park in the alley at night, and leave by 6:00 AM.
Pretty sure that doesn't qualify as a homestead exemption.
Are we saying that this will stop the December 22nd auction or are we just expecting another BK filing?
For a homestead exemption to apply I think you have to occupy 75% of the building.
But as the poster above said, if a BK is filed - State judges are powerless to do anything until the automatic stay is lifted. Which is why someone should sanction his butt in the Federal Bankruptcy Court.
Even if he files, there's an order exempting this property from the stay. The auction will go through unless he files an action in state court, and the district judge gets cold feet about the exemption.
All the City would need to do at that point is present the judge with a readily obtainable comfort order from the bankruptcy court.
No reason why the sale won't happen.
I'd like to agree with you, but he's pulled this several times. I'm afraid he will dig up another $5k retainer and hire someone to try another bankruptcy and automatic stay. It's a joke. Bar complaint? Prosecute for sham process?
Auction didn't happen because Morony paid the tax debt. Good for the city, but bad for downtown. I think this guy actually likes trying to hold part of downtown hostage. http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/realestate/sinclair-building-escapes-the-auction-block-for-the-fourth-time/article_3b3d72a2-2f20-5450-80e5-3d8821fbb4e2.html
For a bankrupt guy, that dude sure has a lot of cash on hand...
Quote from: Gold on December 22, 2015, 11:51:09 AM
Auction didn't happen because Morony paid the tax debt. Good for the city, but bad for downtown. I think this guy actually likes trying to hold part of downtown hostage. http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/realestate/sinclair-building-escapes-the-auction-block-for-the-fourth-time/article_3b3d72a2-2f20-5450-80e5-3d8821fbb4e2.html
Damn
Quote from: PonderInc on December 22, 2015, 12:39:32 PM
For a bankrupt guy, that dude sure has a lot of cash on hand...
My thought exactly. There should be repercussions with the bankruptcy courts.
Quote from: Gold on December 22, 2015, 11:51:09 AM
Auction didn't happen because Morony paid the tax debt. Good for the city, but bad for downtown. I think this guy actually likes trying to hold part of downtown hostage. http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/realestate/sinclair-building-escapes-the-auction-block-for-the-fourth-time/article_3b3d72a2-2f20-5450-80e5-3d8821fbb4e2.html
What a complete dick.
Now sue him for attorney fees. I'm sure the City can muster a bill for $10k plus for attorney fees for this crap, generally awarded for suits on debt owed. Then move for sanctions in the bankruptcy court on the other issues. Take this guy down.
Nothing but a deadbeat and a con-artist.
I'm thinking there is a side deal out there...
Fingers crossed that he paid the $274k in assessments so he can sell it for a lot more to someone who's not a slum lord.
Quote from: PonderInc on December 09, 2015, 09:56:23 AM
Years ago, when nobody could track him down related to the Tulsa Club building, a neighboring business owner said that when Moroney was in town, he would sleep in the Sinclair building at night. He'd park in the alley at night, and leave by 6:00 AM.
Pretty sure that doesn't qualify as a homestead exemption.
I sorta met him briefly this year when he came to see how all of the Mayfest activity was messing up his vacant building.
I really hope someone from the City's legal team is reading this... I could save the some time next go-round.
Morony has sued AT&T over a fight concerning their longtime lease of space in the Sinclair Building for the cell tower on the roof. He decided not to let them access it anymore (apparently after ~17 years of them accessing it) in May of this year. He then demanded, through his Tulsa attorney David Dryer, a $250k "down payment" for electricity their equipment used (AT&T claims their equipment runs on a sub-meter that they pay. Morony claims he has paid $250k+ in their electrical bills) and for hundreds of thousands in other damages. ATT is counter suing for "an amount in excess of $75k," which is the required language. The ATT case is Tulsa County: CJ-15-2632 is is linked here. (http://www.oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=tulsa&cmid=2855600&number=CJ-2015-2632)
The reason this is of interest is that in his verified petition, which he has SWORN is accurate on the attached affidavit (notarized by his attorney), he claims he lives in Tulsa County. In his motions to stay the sale he claims a homestead exemption, claiming he lives there. Great, twice he has sworn to the Court he lives in Tulsa County. Stop wasting time and money trying to serve him in California. I'm guessing any Judge in this County would immediately grant leave to serve by publication IN TULSA COUNTY.
Poof, saved you 180 days and a few hundred bucks.
In the lawsuit Moron had his attorney tell AT&T to use the fire escape to install equipment... lots of back and forth about the issue. I wonder if the elevator has stopped working or what suddenly changed his mind about a 17 year agreement. Guess the Court case will make all that come to light. He always seems to have money for legal fights.
The other Morony suits where I found information:
http://www.oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=tulsa&cmid=2483080&number=CJ-2011-7549
http://www.oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=tulsa&cmid=2173430&number=CJ-2008-8939
Bankruptcies that continuously get tossed out of court. Claiming homestead exemptions that dont seem to stand up. Swearing he lives in Tulsa, or California, or it doesn't matter because you can't serve me suckers (where is he registered to vote?)! Refusal to pay fees, assessments, and taxes until he is repeatedly sued. This is EXACTLY the kind of person who should be tossed out of Court and fined, then barred from refiling without special permission.
I couldn't find a photo of CJ, and no one ever seems able to find him either, so here's a picture of his attorney...
(http://www.dryerlawoffice.com/images/DavidDryer.jpg)
David Dryer, attorney for Carl J. Morony of Tulsa (or Sacramento, or Berkeley)
Quote from: cannon_fodder on December 23, 2015, 05:09:01 PM
In the lawsuit Moron had his attorney tell AT&T to use the fire escape to install equipment...
Freudian slip?
Just as I mentioned before. He's a dick.