Tallgrass Beef being Sued by Former CEO

Ā Tallgrass Beef Being Sued by Former CEO

 

Some of you may be aware of the financial problems Tallgrass Beef has been plagued with for years.Ā  Maybe some of you, as producers, have had dealings with them personally.Ā  Itā€™s a sad day when anyone in the grassfed beef industry has financial problems.

From ChicagoBusiness.com:Ā  hyper linkĀ Ā  -Ā  http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20131014/NEWS07/131019935/bill-kurtis-beef-company-sued-by-ex-ceo/

ā€œBill Kurtis' beef company faces a lawsuit from a former CEO who alleges the veteran broadcaster and the grass-fed meat company owe him back pay.

James Whitney sued Mr. Kurtis and Tallgrass Beef Co. LLC, alleging he has not received ā€œsignificant amountsā€ of back wages and expenses. He was CEO and chief financial officer from December 2008 through 2011, according to his complaint, filed Oct. 11 in federal court in Chicago. (Read the complaint below.)

Mr. Kurtis, who founded Tallgrass in 2005, said Mr. Whitney was let go as part of a downsizing.

ā€œThere are many things that happened, but I can't comment,ā€ he said. He said he was not aware of the lawsuit.

The lawyer listed on the complaint and a lawyer for Mr. Kurtis did not return calls this morning.

A North Carolina marketing firm also is a plaintiff in the lawsuit. The firm, Bloom Agency Inc., put together a marketing plan and designed Tallgrass Beef's website but never was paid, according to the complaint.

Both Mr. Whitney and Bloom allege they have suffered more than $75,000 in damages. Bloom makes a claim only against Tallgrass, not Mr. Kurtis.

This is not Tallgrass Beef's first encounter with nonpayment. In 2010, several suppliers filed a complaint against the company. Mr. Kurtis settled the matter with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for $403,000 last year, including a $50,000 fine.ā€

 

You can read the Tallgrass complaint here:Ā  hyperlink -Ā  http://www.scribd.com/doc/176026609/Tallgrass-suit/

 

 

 

 

 

 

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