Two of the developers of a Zachary TND are involved in a power struggle that has spilled into the courtroom. J. David Matthews and Shearwater Communities filed suit against Chris Mestayer in May over the proposed Americana development, a 414-acre development along La. 64. Matthews and Mestayer are members of Shearwater, which created a company called New Towne to develop Americana. The suit charges Mestayer with taking corporate documents and refusing to go along with decisions passed by the majority. The suit says Mestayer was acting outside of his scope as a minority member and hurting the development. Matthews is seeking to remove Mestayer as a Shearwater developer.
Mestayer responded in court documents by saying that he’s a co-manager and not a minority member of Shearwater. He charges Matthews with engaging in questionable business deals and having liens and/or suits filed against him. It was those dealings that led the New Towne managers to terminate Matthews’ development services. Mestayer says New Towne managers were concerned Matthews’ background could taint Americana. Matthews arranged for New Towne to pay $200,000 in management fees to Shearwater Group, a company he wholly controlled. Mestayer says he was supposed to get half of that money. The case is pending before 19th Judicial District Court.—Timothy Boone
