A preliminary injunction has been issued to stop a golf cart repair and resale business operating out of a home in Sanibel Village.
Sumter County Attorney Jennifer Ray informed commissioners Tuesday night that Judge Christy M. Healis granted a restraining order against Charles Abisari in Circuit Court earlier in the day.
The injunction could mark the end of an eight-year effort to shut down the business.
The county commission in February authorized Ray to seek a preliminary injunction. The county is also seeking a cease and desist order, a $50-a-day fine, damages and attorney’s fees.
Abisari, who lives at 834 Journey Lane, has been running the business on and off since 2016.
Abisari’s neighbors were among those who received subpoenas to testify at the hearing. Subpoenas were issued to Karen Waltz, Charles Waltz, Edward Hannan, Martha Sprunk, Patricia Bigler, Thomas Crews and Theresa Marks.
Subpoenas were also issued to Abisari’s spouse and associates, but he claimed to be single and living alone.
Earlier this year, neighbors told the commission that Abisari sometimes had more than a dozen golf carts parked in his driveway or on the street.
Ray’s complaint noted multiple attempts by the county and The Villages to shut down his business over the past eight years.
The lawsuit says the store causes “traffic congestion, trespassing, obstruction of safe passage on the roadway and other nuisances in residential areas” and that Abisari has “flagrant disregard” for Sumter County ordinances.
The county filed enforcement actions in 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023. Each time, the business was temporarily suspended.
Between 2016 and January, the Villages issued six notices to the golf cart business for violating property registration restrictions.
