Salvador Dalí Museum consultant files breach of contract lawsuit

A Volusia County marketing company is suing the Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, claiming it was short-changed more than $200,000 on consulting services earlier this year.

Markalyst LLC, which is based in Ponce Inlet, alleges that the museum agreed to pay $300,000 plus expenses for the firm to develop recommendations for new marketing objectives, strategies and processes, according to a suit filed Dec. 20 in the 7th Judicial Circuit for Volusia County.

The suit says that the museum sought to pay the $300,000 over an extended period of time because of its "cash position." The suit did not elaborate.

Between January and August, the museum made partial payments totalling $66,800. By the end of July, Markalyst had completed its services, but the museum informed the company it would not be paying the remaining balance owed of $233,200, the suit states.

Markalyst accused the museum of breach of contract and unjust enrichment. It is seeking a jury trial.

Benjamin Webster, an Orlando attorney for Morgan & Morgan representing Markalyst, was traveling out of state and deferred comment to the allegations outlined in the suit.

Representatives of the museum could not be reached Friday.