Facing lawsuits from dozens of buyers, the developer of the Trump International Hotel & Tower Waikiki fired back with its own suit.

In a 15-page complaint filed in state Circuit Court yesterday, California-based Irongate AZREP BW LLC said it is the target of a "sham lawsuit" by a handful of buyers who haven't closed on their sales and are attempting to "extort concessions" from the developers.

"Irongate filed suit against certain individuals who appear to be having a case of buyers' remorse," said Lane Hornfeck, an attorney for Irongate.

"By filing suit against these individuals, Irongate is sending a clear message that it is taking all necessary actions to protect the buyers ... "

Last week, more than a dozen buyers sued Irongate in state Circuit Court, alleging that the developer misled them into believing that mega developer Donald Trump was the Trump Waikiki's co-developer when he in fact was only licensing his name to the project.

A separate federal court lawsuit alleging Irongate defrauded the buyers also was filed last week. That suit was dismissed yesterday and the buyers who sued in that suit will join the state court lawsuit, said Warren Price, attorney for the buyers.

Price called Irongate's actions "desperate" and noted that Irongate failed to disclose that its licensing agreement with Trump was revocable.

"They're swinging in the dark," Price said.

Scheduled for completion in September, the Trump Waikiki is one of the most expensive residential projects in Hawai'i, employing hundreds of workers.

Irongate locked in sales for all 462 units for a total of $700 million in November 2006, in what was the largest-ever one-day sale in real estate history.

Many of those buyers put down 20 percent deposits — or roughly $90,000 to $1 million — to secure their units.