TALK OF OUR TOWN
Miami Beach actor to collect from Scott Storch
BY JOAN FLEISCHMAN
joanfleischman@yahoo.com
Record producer Scott Storch takes another financial hit -- this time from Beach native Matt Sinnreich, 23, a budding actor and film producer. Sinnreich sued Storch over a business dispute, and a Miami-Dade jury awarded Sinnreich $750,000.
Background: The pair agreed to form a company in June '07 to sign and produce singer Sindy Espitia and rapper Darrell ''D Shep'' Sheppard, both of Miami. Sinnreich paid Storch $25,000 for 25 percent of the corporation. But Storch, 35, ''failed to form the corporation . . . and failed to return the $25,000,'' according to court documents. Sinnreich's complaint alleged breach of contract and civil theft. Storch failed to respond to the complaint, and Circuit Judge Ronald Friedman granted Sinnreich's motion for default last December. Jurors recently decided the question of damages, rendering the $750,000 verdict, says Sinnreich's attorney Marc Brumer.
Sinnreich is trying to collect on the judgment. But Storch, once reported to be worth $70 million, has had money woes. He fell behind in child support and owes $722,906.19 in taxes on his $10.5 million mansion on Miami Beach's Palm Island. In March, SunTrust obtained a judgment of foreclosure for $8,484,835.67. The property sale is set for June 26.
Sinnreich, who now lives in LA, is working on his first movie, Cougar Hunting, a Robin Blazak comedy about three guys in their early 20s who head to ritzy Aspen to hook up with hot, monied older women on the prowl.
Sinnreich landed a role in the indie flick and is co-producer, says his dad, Dr. MarkSinnreich, an orthopedic surgeon with some famous patients. The doc treated Michael Jackson for a wrist injury. He also operated on hip-hop producer Marion H. ''Suge'' Knight Jr., shot in the upper right leg during an August '05 party hosted by Kanye West at The Shore Club hotel in South Beach.
Knight is suing West and the hotel for negligence in Miami federal court. His local lawyer? Brumer, who will get an assist from Knight's California attorney Dan McCarthy.
Knight, too, has money troubles. He's in bankruptcy court in LA.
SOBE SALE
A tri-level penthouse at Continuum on South Beach -- first listed for $25 million in '07, and then reduced to $14.95 million last October, just sold -- for $9.9 million. Cash. Buyer: Alex Birkenstock, a German bachelor. Seller: Howard Steinberg, a retired Wall Street lawyer who was general counsel to a Canadian bank and a Japanese securities firm.
There is talk that Birkenstock is a member of the famed footwear family. ''He's not the shoe guy,'' insists Khashy Eyn, a New York real estate broker who brought Birkenstock to the deal. ``He's a private hedge fund guy.''
According to a January '09 article in Footwear News, a fellow named Alex Birkenstock was with Birkenstock USA, but ''stepped away from the operational business.'' His two brothers ''still have active roles'' in the company, the weekly publication says.
Birkenstock the condo buyer declined to comment. Steinberg, 47, and wife Lilly, 36, who have four children ages 4 to 17, bought the 7,374 square-foot condo on the 40th floor for $7 million in June '03. Particulars: four bedrooms, private elevators, rooftop pool, high-tech audio-visual and spectacular views. Movie director Wes Craven shot scenes for the thriller Red Eye at the condo.
Steinberg's Manhattan condo near Ground Zero is also on the market -- for $5.97 million.
Players: Coldwell Banker's Jill Hertzberg and Jill Eber, and Jamie Goff of Douglas Elliman Florida, for Steinberg. R3 International Realty's Asher Abadi, along with Eyn and PhilipAskeroth of Platinum Properties in New York, for Birkenstock.
Eyn, who plans to open a Platinum office in South Beach this year, says the Continuum sale closed in 48 hours. ``I've never seen such a quick deal.''
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