Oakland Beach Association Sues Travis, Sturdahl for Fraud

WARWICK, RI — The Oakland Beach Real Estate Owners Association Superior Court suit alleging fraudulent transfer of 735 Oakland Beach Ave. to Warwick City Councilwoman Donna Travis may hinge on her role and that of Beverlee Sturdahl, its past secretary, in 2021.

Neither were officially listed as officers of the Association in 2021, when Sturdahl signed the quit claim deed passing ownership of the  735 Oakland Beach Ave. property, assessed by the City of Warwick at $65,700, from the group to Travis. Yet Sturdahl signed the deed on behalf of the Association. The property was assessed at $40,300 at the time of the transfer.

At the time of the deed signing, on Aug. 14, 2021, however, there was no official record of the Association membership on file with the Secretary of State, leaving the membership of that group in question at the time.

That year, the Association failed to file its annual report, which would’ve listed its officers for that year.

The suit, filed by current OBREOA President Deb Shatley, points out that Sturdahl was not a member, and also notes that transfer of property from the Association, according to the group’s bylaws, requires an agreement by the majority of Association members, which the suit says didn’t happen.

The suit demands that the Travises return the property and seeks punitive damages against Donna Travis and her husband, William Travis, Sturdahl, and three un-named defendants.

“Defendants, John Doe 1-3, are individuals who may have been involved in the events giving rise to this action and liable to the Association, but whose true names and identities are unknown to the Association as of the filing of this Complaint; however, the Association believes that information obtained through discovery will lead to the identification of each John Doe’s true name and identity at which time the Association will move for leave to amend this Complaint to substitute the John Doe Defendants in their true names,” the lawsuit reads.

Travis could not be reached for comment on the lawsuit. Sturdahl, when reached, declined to comment on the matter.

A copy of the lawsuit has been embedded below: travis lawsuit_1691512221972