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SALT LAKE CITY — A Sandy businessman Monday filed an intent to sue Mayor Ralph Becker and two other Salt Lake City employees for allegedly ruining a business deal.
Wayne Crawford and his Sandy-based company Cardiff Canyon claim Becker, Salt Lake City Public Utilities Director Jeff Niermeyer and city attorney Rusty Vetter impeded the potential sale of 320 acres of watershed lands Crawford owns in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
In the filing, Crawford contends that Becker, Niermeyer and Vetter discouraged potential buyers in a meeting last month from doing business with Crawford, telling them “he had committed criminal fraud and should be in jail.” Crawford argues he has faced no charge, indictment or conviction of fraud.
Crawford says in the claim that he “suffered irreparable damage to his reputation and credibility and will be permanently impeded in business transactions as a direct result” of the actions of Becker, Niermeyer and Vetter.
Crawford is seeking at least $480,000 in damages, the appraised value of the land involved, according to the claim.
Becker’s spokesman, Art Raymond, declined to comment on the matter Tuesday, citing pending or threatened litigation.
