Trump Hotel Firm Must Defend Fraud Claim Over Panama Project
- Former business partner sued Trump hospitality company in 2018
- Company is accused of evading taxes, underreporting salaries
The Trump Ocean Club International Hotel, tallest, stands in Panama City.
Photographer: Rodrigo Arangua/AFP via Getty Images
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A former business partner of Donald Trump’s hotel company can pursue allegations that the president’s firm evaded income taxes on a project in Panama and under-reported employee salaries there, a federal judge ruled.
U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos on Monday allowed the business partner, Orestes Fintiklis, and his fund, Ithaca Capital Investments, to amend their 2018 lawsuit against Trump International Hotels Management to add claims of fraud and breach of contract. Ithaca assumed control of the property after the Trump company withdrew from it in March 2018, and a feud ensued.