Prominent Northwest Florida real estate entrepreneur Jay Odom filed a lawsuit last week against Robert Smith and 10 unnamed conspirators, alleging violations of Florida’s Civil Racketeering and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and other charges.

• The lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court for the First Judicial Circuit in Walton County, claims Smith has engaged in a nearly two-decade-long campaign to allegedly extort money from Odom through false accusations and abuse of legal and governmental processes.

According to the complaint, Smith allegedly attempted to “weaponize various government agencies,” including the FBI, IRS, and Department of Justice, against Odom through false reports and qui tam lawsuits. The lawsuit details multiple instances where Smith reportedly contacted these agencies with accusations against Odom, which the complaint characterizes as baseless.

“For the last 20 years, I have had to defend myself against a relentless, greed-driven campaign of legal harassment by Robert Smith,” Odom said in a press release accompanying the lawsuit. “It’s clear that only the court can put an overdue end to these false and unfounded accusations.”

The legal action stems from a business relationship that reportedly soured in 2007, when Odom bought out Smith’s interest in Hammock Bay, according to the complaint. The lawsuit alleges that following this buyout, Smith reportedly began a pattern of making false accusations against Odom.

Odom, described in the court filing as a respected community leader, has developed numerous projects in the Florida Panhandle, including Freedom Tech Center, Uptown Station, and Hammock Bay. The complaint states that Odom’s company, The Jay Odom Group, has developed thousands of homesites and commercial properties in the region.

The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to stop Smith from making further allegations about Odom and to recover out-of-pocket expenses Odom claims he incurred defending against Smith’s alleged actions. 

• These expenses allegedly include legal fees for defending against a qui tam lawsuit and responding to government inquiries resulting from Smith’s reported accusations.

In addition to the RICO violations, the lawsuit accuses Smith of civil conspiracy, malicious prosecution, and aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty. The complaint also alleges that Smith’s actions have wasted taxpayer resources by triggering unnecessary government investigations.

• The lawsuit also names “John Does 1-10” as defendants, referring to yet-to-be-identified alleged conspirators who, according to the complaint, may have assisted Smith in his alleged scheme against Odom.

The complaint emphasizes that despite Smith’s alleged actions, Odom has continued to contribute to the economic development of Northwest Florida. According to the lawsuit, Odom’s projects have created jobs and positively impacted the region’s economy.

“Through good times and bad, I have stayed true to my life’s mission of serving others by providing quality homes, commercial buildings, and recreation areas for people in communities I dearly love,” Odom said. 

The case is pending in Walton County Circuit Court, and the allegations in the lawsuit have not been proven in court.