Skirvin owner responds in time

Oesman Sapta narrowly missed a default judgment which could have ultimately resulted in his assets, including the Skirvin OSO Hotel, being frozen.

His sealed response to a motion involving a fraud case just made it under the wire of a two-day deadline.

Also, the judge in the case issued an order Friday denying Sapta's motion for a protective order in which he sought to delay appearing for depositions due to ill health. William Curry Myles, former sales manager at the Bob Howard auto dealership, alleges that Sapta, who bought the Skirvin Plaza Hotel in March 1995 for $1.7 million, owes him $3 million. He claims Sapta fraudulently induced him to quit his job and go to work for the now defunct OSO car dealership at NW 122nd Street and N. May Avenue. Myles' attorney, Blanton Brown, plans to file a reply to Sapta's sealed response this week. Referring to an Indonesian doctor's letter issued as an excuse for Sapta's missed depositions in his motion for a protective order, Judge Robin Cauthron stated, "Even if the information in the neurologist's letter is true, that statement does not support a contention that defendant is so ill that he cannot comply with this court's order and give his deposition." Since his purchase of the Skirvin Plaza Hotel, Sapta's troubles have mounted. His company owes $17,500 in back taxes, which if unpaid, will grow at a rate of $32,673 each year. In addition, Scheulein & Halpain, who furnished engineering services for the hotel's reconstruction, sued Sapta's company, BYOC, in August for $85,297 worth of unpaid work. But Brown is encouraged about recent events in his client's case. "This is an indication that Sapta must prove why he is ill. "But the real story remains to be seen," said Brown.

Copyright 1996
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