By Ken Alltucker
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sycamore Township-based KT Property Management Inc. filed a lawsuit Wednesday claiming that a real estate investor improperly used the company's name while acquiring several homes in Southwest Ohio.

Investor Troy Lee Keith purchased homes in Butler, Clermont, Warren and Montgomery counties and placed the properties in KT Property's name, according to the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court lawsuit.

The company received some of Keith's bills and was even sued by a bank stemming from one of Keith's deals, according to the lawsuit.

"Keith is not at present nor has he ever been employed or affiliated in any way whatsoever with KT," the lawsuit states.

Homeowners in Butler, Clermont and Warren counties have complained in recent months that Keith collected thousands of dollars in fees and failed to deliver on promises to save homes from foreclosure.

Keith could not be reached Wednesday, but he told the Enquirer last month that he never promised that his deals would guarantee people would keep their homes.

Police agencies in Cincinnati, Springdale and Butler County are investigating nearly four dozen deals that Keith completed over the past year.

KT Property, which owns and manages apartment buildings in Greater Cincinnati, said Keith's use of the company's name has cause a misconception about the firm's identity and reputation.

In February, the company sent Keith a letter requesting he stop using KT Property's name and "re-title" all real estate that he transferred into the company's name. The lawsuit says Keith never responded to the letter.

KT Property wants a judge to order Keith to stop using the company's name and to pay the company $125,000 in damages and other costs.

E-mail kalltucker@enquirer.com