More money, more problems

Waterpark-building dentist Richard Malouf slaps Candy Evans and WFAA with alawsuit

Richard and Leanne Malouf have filed suit to keep journalists — and their ownneighbors — off their property.
Candysdirt.com
The Maloufs are in the process of building a waterpark on their Strait Laneproperty.
Candy's Dirt

UPDATE: On October 19, a judge granted the Maloufs a temporary, two-week restraining order against Candy Evans and WFAA. The next hearing is scheduled for November 1.

What we have here is a case of rich people problems. Richard and Leanne Malouf just want to build a personal waterpark in peace at their Strait Lane home. But pesky journalists and neighbors keep getting in the way, asking questions about water and power uses and lines of city code.

Well, the Maloufs aren't going to take it anymore. They've filed suit against CultureMap contributor Candy Evans, Channel 8 WFAA and Laura Wilson, who happens to live next door to the would-be waterpark. The Maloufs allege all three parties have conspired to trespass on their property; invade their privacy; and defame, libel and slander the couple.

There is even a subhead in the lawsuit titled "CANDY'S OBSESSION." Those caps are definitely not mine.

Richard Malouf is no stranger to legal drama. He's been charged with Medicaid fraud for his work at All Smiles Dental, and he's facing lawsuits from the Texas Attorney General and private attorneys under the False Claims Act.

In this case, Evans is bearing the brunt of the blame for her work on CandysDirt.com and with WFAA. The Maloufs accuse Evans of working closely with Wilson to gain access to their home. Wilson, a renowned photographer, lives on Strait Lane with her husband, Bob. They are the parents of Hollywood heartthrobs Andrew, Luke and Owen Wilson.

In the filing, the Maloufs allege that Evans "prides herself on intruding into the private affairs of others and publishing that information." There is even a subhead in the lawsuit titled "CANDY'S OBSESSION." Those caps are definitely not mine.

I have to hand it to the Maloufs' attorney for the quick pace of the filing's diction. I've read through my fair share of legal documents, and precious few have included phrasing like, "Candy brazenly sauntered up to the tent where the Maloufs' daughter was located and commenced an impromptu interview."

Here's another good one: "Candy took the audacious steps of crawling onto the roof of the Wilsons' home." Extra style points for the play on words.

The case is pending in county court. The Maloufs are asking for a restraining order against Evans, WFAA and Wilson, plus nominal damages and court fees.

unspecified

GP News

Grand Prairie expands to the south with new master-planned community

Rendering courtesy of Provident

Goodland Grand Prairie

The City of Grand Prairie is growing fast and expanding to make way for a new master-planned development south of US Highway 287 and along Tollway 360, in Ellis and Johnson counties.

The community development, called Goodland, is the result of Grand Prairie’s recent 1,500-acre annexation extending its southern border toward Mansfield. Overall, with the added land, Goodland will be a 5,000-acre site featuring 15,000 residences including townhomes, custom homes, and gated communities for 50,000 residents.

According to a release, it will be a “city within a city” and a 45-minute drive from Dallas-Fort Worth. Beyond housing, there will be shops, restaurants, schools, public and private event venues, regional sports fields and complexes, dance halls, churches, trail systems, city parks, ponds, and preserved green spaces.

“This is a significant step in our city’s development,” says Grand Prairie Mayor Ron Jensen in a statement. “Unlike many of our neighboring cities, we have the unique advantage of new development opportunities to our south that will drive the growth and prosperity of our city. We recognized the opportunity and took decisive action.”

Leading the development is Provident, a Dallas-based real estate firm that has created other master-planned communities across Dallas-Fort Worth, such as Preston Hollow Village and Hillstead in Collin County. Provident has plans to work nature into the space design with more than 1,600 acres of creek corridors and floodplain land.

Plans are ongoing for a centralized mixed-use walkable Town Center, complete with civic buildings and other commercial development. Further south on the property near Highway 67, light industrial uses and other private employment campuses are already underway, projects that will contribute vital tax dollars for city growth and future expansions.

“This level of placemaking is quite rare, and certainly not easy to execute, especially in a brand-new community," says Provident Managing Director Rylan Yowell in a statement. "We are committed to a long-term vision with a desire to be good stewards of the land."

A new four-lane road called Goodland Parkway will link Goodland to Grand Prairie at Tollway 360 and US Highway 287. It's set to open by December 2025.

openings