Russell Weiner, the billionaire founder of Rockstar Energy Drink, is alleging the project manager and general contractor of his $100 million-plus estate in Miami Beach completed defective work that lacked the proper approvals and permits.
Weiner’s Pine Tree Development filed a new lawsuit this summer against Andrea D’Alessio and his Inspirata Management Company, Deere Construction/Deere Industries and Baco Engineering Contractor, focusing on alleged site-wide issues he discovered at 5011 and 5111 Pine Tree Drive in Miami Beach.
The complaint adds to the billionaire’s saga over the waterfront assemblage, where he plans the “most incredible estate in Miami,” Weiner previously told The Real Deal. That includes a new 30,000-square-foot main mansion at 5011 Pine Tree Drive.
The complaint alleges that structures on the properties were built without the required building permits or zoning approvals. (Some construction was being done via a private provider and a phased permit, which allows property owners to use private providers to review plans and perform inspections that the city would otherwise handle.)
The complaint further cites alleged issues that include the improper installation of more than 400 piles; that the entire site was inadequately filled, compacted and graded, leading to
sinkholes, soil instability and erosion post-rainfall; incorrectly installed sewer lines that triggered a stop-work order, which required the entire project be reworked; and a generator pad that was installed without approval.
The complaint also alleges issues with the reconstruction of the boat house that was built in the 1920s; variances between what was built and what was approved at the Collins estate at 5011 Pine Tree, which was deemed architecturally significant by the city; missing drainage and other examples of improper construction, according to the lawsuit.
Inspirata and D’Alessio filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on Monday, court filings show. The judge has not yet ruled.
“Andrea [D’Alessio] is one of the most talented architects I’ve ever seen,” said Glen Waldman, Inspirata and D’Alessio’s attorney. “We welcome the opportunity to have the court determine not only did he do nothing wrong, but this is personal vendetta by Mr. Weiner for reasons we can’t understand.”
Waldman, a partner at Armstrong Teasdale, said he expects his clients will be vindicated and will seek to collect legal fees and costs from Weiner.
Weiner declined to comment on the litigation.
Weiner’s plans to relocate and preserve the Collins estate were documented in 2023 by the Miami Design Preservation League. The structure was moved to the western portion of the property. The Collins estate was designed by architect Russell Pancoast and built in the 1920s by Irving Collins, a son of Miami Beach founding father John Collins.
A group of anonymous neighbors last year indicated issues with construction, pointing to the alleged forgery of a notarized notice of commencement filed with Miami-Dade County. Such notices typically mark the start of construction, and are secured in conjunction with a building permit in the property’s respective municipality.
Weiner’s company first sued D’Alessio and related parties last fall after The Real Deal reported on the alleged red flags. An amended complaint submitted in December alleged D’Alessio, Inspirata and another of D’Alessio’s companies crafted “schemes to defraud and cheat” the property owner through overbilling, false charges and self-dealing.
D’Alessio allegedly promoted himself as a “renowned architectural designer” and residential contractor, but he didn’t have a Florida license for design, construction, or any certifications with respect to design or development, according to the December complaint.
D’Alessio denied the allegations, and previously said that Weiner knew D’Alessio was not the general contractor. State records show D’Alessio received his general contractor’s license in May of this year.
Deere’s lawyer, Francisco Touron III, declined to comment, but wrote via email that the company is “prepared to aggressively defend against Plaintiff’s spurious claims.”
Weiner acquired the two lots from private school owners David and Leila Centner in 2021, hiring D’Alessio’s Inspirata as a project manager and owner’s representative for construction of the waterfront estate. As part of the agreement, Weiner’s company would pay Inspirata nearly $41,000 a month tied to the design, development and construction of the properties.
The latest complaint alleges breach of contract, negligence and breach of fiduciary duty. In Inspirata and D’Alessio’s motion to dismiss, their attorneys claim that Pine Tree Development failed to satisfy Florida law’s requirements for breach of contract, among other arguments. The motion to dismiss also argues that the agreement between Pine Tree and Inspirata “explicitly states that Inspirata is not responsible for construction.”
The properties are separated by the slender home at 5101 Pine Tree Drive, which Weiner also owns — he acquired the middle piece via foreclosure of Richard and Maria Meruelo’s property.
Weiner hasn’t disclosed his plans for the assemblage, but demolition of the 5101 Pine Tree home is underway, he wrote via text. (Miami Beach allows property owners to aggregate up to three contiguous parcels if the third lot is used for expanded yards or accessory structures, like pools, cabanas and sports courts.) Records show a notice of commencement for the demolition was signed last week.
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