What We Know: A developer interested in building a digital infrastructure facility in Springfield says social media posts about another project have cost his company more than $1 million.
What It Means: Trent Overhue and NSI A1 filed a lawsuit against Katherine Wiltse in Wright County Circuit Court in August.
Overhue is connected to a digital infrastructure facility near Marshfield. He has also proposed developing a similar facility at 2900 South National Avenue in Springfield.
The Springfield project has not been built, and earlier city officials said it had not reached the formal application stage.
What’s Next: The lawsuit claims Wiltse posted false information saying the Marshfield facility had two recent fire incidents.
Overhue disputes that. The lawsuit says a security guard called the fire department once over concerns about a temporary generator, but firefighters found no fire or other problem.
The lawsuit claims those statements were then used to encourage opposition to the proposed Springfield project.
NSI A1 says the posts affected potential tenants and investors, delayed the project, and caused more than $1 million in losses.
The company is seeking financial damages and has requested a jury trial.
The lawsuit is still pending, and the allegations have not been proven in court. Wiltse has declined to comment on the case.
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