Cornice and Rose International LLC, a Chicago architectural firm, is suing an Iowa bank over what it calls the “piracy” of its intellectual property. First Security Bank & Trust Co. of Charles City took over an ongoing retail and residential development project in a bankruptcy proceeding, intending to finish the downtown Charles City project and open it for businesses and 33 residential units. The complaint, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, alleges that the bank never paid Cornice & Rose for the architectural work on the project, formerly known as McQuillen Place. The suite also accuses eight contractors and two individuals of complicity in the improper use of the architectural design. First Security Bank bought the building at a court sale in July 2020, but opponents in litigation claim the sale violated due process at the expense of creditors and the structure’s original developer. The underlying legal matter is currently on appeal with the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis. The latest update on the project, now called Union House, by the Charles City Press can be found at this link.