"The allegations are baseless and the company does not wish to comment," Emaar said in an e-mailed statement.
Public relations consultant Lionel Lombard, a US citizen who lived in an Emaar building in Dubai, is suing the builder of the world's tallest tower on grounds of alleged racial discrimination, harassment, wrongful imprisonment and torture, according to the complaint document filed on July 7 at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California.
"Lionel Lombard was twice arrested and unlawfully and arbitrarily detained and maliciously prosecuted," the document said. It said the treatment occurred after Lombard sent e-mails, made phone calls, protested in person and called the police over "racial discrimination against people of African descent at Emaar's The Springs development.”
It also followed visits by Lombard to Emaar's chairman, Mohammed Alabbar, the document said. Alabbar has been summoned to appear in the case. 
"He (Lombard) also sues for compensation of property seized by government officials in conjunction with his arbitrary arrest, forced disappearance and prolonged detention," the document said.
The document says Emaar "conspired" to instigate "false and malicious criminal and civil proceedings.”
During his time in prison, Lombard was "savagely beaten,” according to the document.   "Plaintiff suffered abrasions and bruises and was brutally chained and moved to a punishment cell for three weeks ... He was restrained, denied proper food and water, medical care or washing facilities," the document said.
Dubai deputy police chief Khamis Al-Mazeina said the allegations about his treatment were untrue.
"We strongly deny those accusations. Dubai police do not torture anybody .... This is all a figment of his imagination and entirely baseless."
Lawyers for Lombard said the case was being filed in California because Emaar USA conducts substantial business there and because Lombard also feared he might not get a fair trial in the United Arab Emirates.