Claims about two alleged fire incidents at a digital infrastructure facility near Marshfield are now at the center of a lawsuit tied to a separate proposed project in Springfield.
Trent Overhue and NSI A1, LLC filed the civil lawsuit Aug. 27 in Wright County Circuit Court against Katherine Wiltse.
Overhue is connected to the digital infrastructure facility on Rifle Range Road near Marshfield. He is also the developer behind a separate proposed project at 2900 South National Avenue in Springfield, according to the lawsuit. NSI A1 is the company behind the Springfield proposal.
The lawsuit alleges Wiltse made false statements on social media about the Marshfield facility and then used those claims to encourage opposition to the Springfield project.
Wiltse has publicly opposed both projects, according to the filing.
The dispute centers largely on posts Wiltse allegedly made in two public Facebook groups in August.
According to the lawsuit, one post claimed the Marshfield facility had experienced “2 fire incidents in the last 3 weeks.”
The post also identified Overhue as the developer behind the proposed 10-megawatt Springfield project and encouraged people to attend public meetings and voice their concerns.
The lawsuit says the same fire claim appeared in another Springfield Facebook group. A similar claim later appeared in a pinned comment on the Living in Southern Missouri YouTube channel.
Overhue disputes the claims about the Marshfield facility.
According to the lawsuit, there were no fires at the facility during the three-week period mentioned in the social media post.
The filing says there was one incident when a security guard became concerned that a temporary generator might not be working properly. The fire department was called as a precaution.
Firefighters checked the situation and found no fire or other problem, according to the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs also claim there was no second fire, second fire department response or other fire-related incident during that period.
The lawsuit alleges the social media posts damaged Overhue’s professional reputation and hurt the proposed Springfield project.
NSI A1 claims the posts affected potential tenants and investors, delayed the Springfield proposal and increased costs. The company estimates its losses at more than $1 million.
Overhue said people have the right to question or oppose data center projects.
“Everyone has the right to oppose a data center project, voice concerns, and disagree with its development,” Overhue said. “People are also free to use social media and other public platforms to express their opinions, ask questions, and advocate for their communities.”
But Overhue said he believes those discussions cross a line when false information is spread and causes harm to individuals or businesses.
“Public disagreement and good-faith criticism are part of any community discussion, but they do not justify harassment, personal attacks, or the deliberate spread of misinformation,” Overhue said.
Overhue and NSI A1 are seeking financial damages and have requested a jury trial.
The case remains pending. The claims made in the lawsuit are allegations and have not been decided by a court.
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