City lawsuit calls San Marco mansion's events ‘illegal' & ‘unsafe'

The manager of a lavish San Marco mansion is being sued more than seven months after an Action News Jax investigation exposed that the mansion was operating as an illegal event venue.

The city of Jacksonville’s lawsuit said the so-called Tuscan River Estate is putting guests in danger, calling the events that take place there “illegal” and “unsafe.”

Neighbors have been telling Action News Jax since July that the weddings and parties at the mansion have taken over quiet Kelnepa Drive.

It's a situation that could happen in any neighborhood.

“That wasn’t what we were expecting when we moved in here almost 20 years ago,” said neighbor Bonnie Biats.

Biats and other neighbors said the events cause noise, traffic and parking problems on their narrow street.

The city is suing Tuscan River Estate LLC and the property’s manager, Michael Johnigean, for using a residential property for commercial use, putting event guests in danger by violating the fire code and lacking a permit as a place of assembly.

Johnigean denied Action News Jax’s request for an interview, but said in a text message, “This is so ridiculous. It’s not even a story.”

The mansion was once the home of failed Latitude 360 CEO Brent Brown.

“The Browns, when they first moved in, they were very friendly. They wanted to be a part of the neighborhood and all that. And then, suddenly, they move out and it’s party time,” said Biats.

After Action News Jax investigations exposed that Brown gave his employees paychecks that bounced and that he owed millions in unpaid taxes and court judgements, Brown sold the mansion to an LLC.

Although Johnigean denies it, Brown still has connections to the property.

Brown’s mother still has a clicker for the gate and the Homeaway listing for the property says the owner is Brown’s wife, Toni Brown.

Cox Media Group