NEW YORK, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- David Copperfield is in a legal battle with a millionaire who accused the illusionist of tricks in order to buy an exclusive Bahamas resort.
John Melk sued Copperfield for fraud because the entertainer allegedly used frontmen to negotiate to buy Musha Cay after the entrepreneur initially turned down Copperfield's offer to purchase the property because he had no experience running a resort, tabloid TV's "Celebrity Justice" reported.
"He tricked my client into believing that he was selling the island to a company that had prior resort experience. That is classic fraud," said David Rammelt, Melk's attorney.
Copperfield disputes the claims, saying Melk wasn't looking for an experienced resort buyer, but rather someone with cash.
"This lawsuit by Mr. Melk is really just an attempt by him to shakedown Mr. Copperfield for additional money," said Peter Haveles, Copperfield's attorney. "There was no fraud and there was no fictitious corporation."
Musha Cay is an ultra-exclusive resort where the likes of Bill Gates, Faith Hill, John Travolta and Oprah Winfrey have vacationed.
