A Texas business court judge ruled in favor of Will Northern in the lawsuit filed by Michael Crain, his former business partner in real estate firm Northern Crain.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
On Aug. 6, Judge Jerry Bullard of the Texas Business Court Eighth Division in Fort Worth dismissed a lawsuit filed by Crain in June 2025 alleging<\/a> Northern improperly used Northern Crain companies\u2019 confidential information, resources and personnel for a \u201cpotentially lucrative business venture.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In the lawsuit, Crain said Northern and others acted without Crain\u2019s knowledge or consent to exclude him and the jointly owned firm from the business transaction involving the Woodhaven Country Club property.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIn my opinion, Michael Crain used the Courts in an attempt to profit from the Woodhaven redevelopment project in which he had no interest, he invested no time, money or effort,\u201d Northern said in a statement to the Fort Worth Report.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Crain, who represents District 3 on Fort Worth City Council, said he would appeal the ruling.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst and foremost, we believe the court lacked jurisdiction over the matter,\u201d Crain said in a statement. \u201cRather than hearing evidence on the underlying facts or the merits of our claims, the case was resolved through procedural ruling based on a record we believe was incomplete and, in some respect, inaccurate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n On Friday, Northern also said there had been progress in the development of Woodhaven, a former golf course that closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.\u00a0<\/p>\n Crescendo Development, the company Northern is using to redevelop the neighborhood, is working with housing development company Blue Ridge Cascade<\/a> on a mixed-used project at the site. Meetings with residents in the neighborhood will continue.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bob Francis is business editor at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n