Peter Smith was hailed in June 2023 as someone who would “do good things at the Marina” by IDA Director Mark Geise.

“We hope to use Pete’s vision for the transformation of this Marina to a destination as one of the best small boat marinas in all of Lake Erie from Buffalo to Cleveland,” said Dunkirk’s planning and development director, Vince DeJoy, in July.

However, a couple of incidents during that July 2023 made local officials question Smith’s suitability as marina runner. Smith took over the marina lease from Charles Pringle earlier in the year.

First, Smith was charged with alleged violent threats against someone he believed stole from him. Just a couple weeks later, he was disqualified as winner of a walleye tournament after it was discovered he stuffed fish to increase their weight.

Land at 18-24 Lake Shore Drive West in Dunkirk is mentioned in the lawsuit. Photo by Braden Carmen

Smith and his wife were later allowed to present a proposal in August under the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

It was subsequently announced that Triple S Marina, LLC would acquire the marina lease from Smith. However, Triple S sued Smith for allegedly not complying with the handover agreement.

The transaction was supposed to close Oct. 10 at the Chautauqua County Clerk’s Office, according to the Triple S lawsuit. However, neither Smith nor anyone representing him showed up.

Smith fought back with counterclaims.

“The plaintiff entered into a collusive agreement or scheme with individually or collectively the city of Dunkirk and/or… the IDA under which the plaintiff conspired to force and include the sole member of the defendant LLCs, Peter Smith, to divest himself of the Chadwick Bay Marina” and sell it at well below market value, according to court papers.

The papers refer to “an incident while he was suffering from a bipolar disorder which resulted in his arrest,” and “the charges did not result in a conviction.” Dunkirk, the IDA and Triple S “attempted to capitalize on Mr. Smith’s illness to force and coerce him to sign a contract for the sale” of the Marina, it is alleged.

Other allegations include:

— Dunkirk allegedly directed its attorney to warn Smith in a letter that he and his family would be financially destroyed if he did not agree to sell the property.

— The IDA listed it for sale without Smith’s permission.

— “The plaintiff along with its co-conspirators engaged in an effort attempting to spread stories and falsehoods seeking to defame Peter Smith.”

Smith and his lawyers are also trying to argue that one of the contracts involved in Marina sales involves personal, not real, property — and therefore is not subject to any “time is of the essence” closing dates.

The case is still pending in the state Supreme Court. A conference on the case is set for Friday, according to the state court system’s online information portal.