Gwinnett Homebuilder Leading Lawsuit vs. Masino, Chamber

Gwinnett County homebuilder David Bowling is listed as the registered agent for the legal entity that is suing former Suwanee Mayor Nick Masino and the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce over a failed land deal.

The Georgia Secretary of State's office confirmed Bowling's involvement Monday. Limited Liability Companies in Georgia are required to register with that office.

Bowling is a partner in Williams & Bowling Builders, which officially lists a Snellville address. His office number could not be reached Monday.

Bowling's business partner, Brad Williams, also could not be reached for comment. It is not known whether Williams is also part of Settles Bridge Farm LLC, which filed a lawsuit last week in Gwinnett County Superior Court.

The lawsuit is over an attempt by Notre Dame Academy in Duluth to build on Suwanee property in the Moore Road area. The deal was delayed and eventually was abandoned, and this is the third lawsuit related to the matter; another is still active.

Masino, now an executive with the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, said Monday that he could not comment on pending litigation.

The lawsuit alleges that Masino in 2008 passed along confidential and proprietary information to Suwanee city officials about the school's plans to build on a 36-acre plot of land. Suwanee City Manager Marty Allen said last week that officials already knew of the school's interest in the land when Masino called.

The school recently cancelled the sales contract; it also settled a lawsuit with the City of Suwanee over the matter. Another lawsuit with Settles Bridge LLC is still pending with the City of Suwanee.

Suwanee city manager Allen said that he advised City Council members after Masino's call that residents in that area of Suwanee would probably oppose efforts by the school to build there. Suwanee then put in a moratorium on building and then passed regulations requiring a special use permit to build in the area.