Encore Boston Harbor

An Everett auto body shop owner claims his landlord filed a series of complaints with city inspectors to pressure him into an early lease termination so the property could be sold to casino developer Wynn Resorts.

ADH Collision of Boston Inc. has a lease at 36 Mystic St. in Everett that runs through October with tenant extension options through 2029, according to the lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Boston. The company seeks $3.2 million in damages.

“In its relentless pursuit to buy up as much of the property in the areas surrounding its resort casino as possible, Wynn has knowingly sought to end the ADH Collision lease agreement through improper means for its sole benefit,” the complaint filed by the Wellesley-based Gordon Law Firm alleges.

The lawsuit names Wynn Resorts as defendant. It claims one count of intentional interference with advantageous business and contractual relations and one count of violations of Chapter 93A, the Massachusetts consumer protection law.

In a statement issued today, Wynn Resorts spokesman Michael Weaver said the “followed standard legal and business procedures in acquiring land parcels near our Everett property.”

Wynn made a series of offers to buy a collection of properties including 36 Mystic St., with prices ranging from $4.9 million to $9.75 million, between October 2015 and June 2016, the complaint states. Wynn sought to buy the property free of tenants.

Lease termination negotiations with landlord A&R Realty Trust “stalled before they truly began,” the complaint states. After the auto body shop sought $2.2 million for relocation, the landlord in August 2016 began a “sudden spate of unsubstantiated allegations of building violations” which triggered inspections by the city of Everett’s building, electrical, fire and plumbing inspectors. Citing violations found during the inspections, the landlord notified ADH Collision that it had breached its lease. ADH Collision filed a lawsuit in October 2016 seeking to confirm that its lease remains valid, which remains pending.

Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The $2.6 billion casino is scheduled to open in June. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is investigating whether Wynn Resorts withheld information on its application to secure the Greater Boston casino license, including former CEO Steve Wynn’s alleged sexual misconduct.

This report has been updated with a response from Wynn Resorts.