The Paper Trail to Peril
By 2013, Celebration Pointe’s financing began to unravel. According to the lawsuit, the developer turned to high-interest loans—all personally guaranteed by Shively. She says she was misled into signing the documents, unaware she was placing her entire financial future on the line.
In 2019, the financial bleeding continued. Olinger urged her to mortgage homes she had gifted her children to pump even more money into the struggling project.
Then came the coup de grâce: In March 2024, Celebration Pointe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. But even then, the complaint claims, Olinger convinced Shively to fork over another $15 million, promising he’d “handle everything.”
Now, she is facing 11 lawsuits from lenders and facing ruin.
“Backfilled with Patti’s Fortune”: No Returns, Only Regret
Perhaps the most stinging allegation? That others—friends, family, even clients of Olinger—allegedly received distributions from Celebration Pointe while Shively, the project’s largest backer, received nothing.
“To preserve his reputation,” the complaint alleges, Olinger used Shively’s fortune to “backfill” failing investments and shield others from loss—leaving her holding the bag.
