A civil racketeering lawsuit filed by Gulf Stream against its chief resident gadfly raises the stakes in the protracted conflict between town officials and Martin O'Boyle.

The potential class action filed Feb. 12 in West Palm Beach federal court alleges O'Boyle, his son Jonathan, his friend Christopher O'Hare and others conspired to misuse state public records laws for their own benefit. The lawsuit claims they forced hundreds of settlements of frivolous filings against Gulf Stream, other Florida municipalities and contractors, including some whose business isn't subject to public disclosure.

“It's extortion, plain and simple,” said Gerald Richman of Richman Greer in West Palm Beach. He filed the lawsuit on behalf of the town and Wantman Group Inc., a West Palm Beach-based engineering consulting firm.

Between them, O'Boyle and O'Hare have filed more public records requests with affluent Gulf Stream, population 928, than it has residents, plus about 32 related court claims. O'Boyle is a plaintiff in at least four federal lawsuits naming Gulf Stream and various town officials and employees as defendants.