Bad Image in This Story: Squatting Nudist

Nudist resort board sues founder
He's ordered to pay rent in long-running feud

By Kimball Perry • kperry@enquirer.com • July 8, 2008

A man accused of being a squatter at a Hamilton County nudist resort has been ordered - after being accused of setting a bonfire on the property out of spite - to start paying rent as the case winds through the court system.
The case looks at a vicious internal fight between David Weber, one of the 10 original owners of Paradise Resort Inc., and the board of directors of the Colerain Township nudist resort.
About thee decades ago, Weber and nine others put up the money to start the 35-acre Blue Rock Road resort.
At that time, each of the 10 put up about $3,700.
In the last year, though, Weber and the rest of the board of directors of the private nudist resort have been battling over everything except nudity.
Weber filed suit in January in Hamilton County accusing other members of the resort's board of doing all they can to kick him off the resort, a place where he insists he can live forever because he is one of the founding members.
But others on the board say he has caused so many problems and owes the resort so much money that his membership has been terminated, resulting in him losing all membership rights - including residency.
Now, the board has fired back, filing a countersuit accusing Weber of using resort money for his personal use and of destroying resort property, issues that can be resolved if Weber pays the resort $750,000.
The board also has tried to prevent Weber from using the resort's pool and other facilities and from attending resort functions.
Much of the fight is over one of the 10 ownership shares of the resort.
Earlier, a couple - two of the original owners - were accused of criminal activity and decided to give up their ownership.
The board's countersuit notes that Weber was the one who pressed for prosecution of the case - then called the couple in March 2007 to try to get their share transferred to him, a violation of resort bylaws that give the resort the right of first refusal on all for-sale shares.
Because of that fight, Weber has been asked several times by the board to leave the property.
He responded by burning a huge bonfire using his bedding while at the resort, harassing other members and destroying resort property in an attempt to drive others nudists away, the resort's countersuit claims.
Weber has refused to leave or pay rent, as the board wants.
The board also alleges that Weber can't be a board member because one of the stipulations is membership in the American Association for Nude Recreation. They say Weber doesn't belong to that organization.
Weber "is well aware of the rules and regulations of (the resort) as well as (the resort's) shareholder requirements," the countersuit notes, adding that Weber should know that because he's been the board's president on several occasions.
Finally, they say Weber illegally spent about $3,500 in resort money and returned to the resort's bank accounts $60,000 after they asked him where the money had gone.
Now, the board wants $750,000 and for Weber to get out and stay out.
Friday, Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge William Mallory ordered Weber to start paying the resort $375-a-month rent plus utilities until the case is resolved.
Weber is allowed to use all of the club's facilities until then.
The case is next in court July 16.