The Pizza Terra restaurant in Burns Harbor instantly closed its doorways Monday as the entire inside gear was eliminated as a part of an possession dispute between the enterprise companions.
Rolando “Roly” Martinez filed a lawsuit Friday in Porter Superior Court docket towards Jeremy Branshaw, his enterprise companion, and Courtney R. Eaton, who was an worker.
On Monday, the entire inside kitchen gear, together with the tables and chairs, have been faraway from the restaurant’s inside. An indication on the door stated the eatery was closed for transforming.
“There isn’t the gear to run a restaurant as a result of all of it has been moved to a protected place,” stated Patrick McEeun, a Portage lawyer representing Martinez. “Mr. Branshaw determined to slander Mr. Martinez, and he wasn’t having it.”
Branshaw refused to signal for any monetary accountability for the gear, McEeun stated. When the leasing firm discovered of the shareholder dispute, they suggested Martinez that as a result of he was guaranteeing the debt, he was approved to take away the gear to a protected and insured location, McEeun stated.
Martinez alleges within the lawsuit that Branshaw and Eaton conspired to “defame” him and freeze him out of the operation.
McEuen has requested the court docket to nominate a receiver to handle the belongings of JGR Restaurant, Inc., which does enterprise as “Pizza Terra.”
Martinez is a 50% proprietor within the enterprise and was concerned with the Gastro 49 Pub & Eatery in Chesterton and Huge Time Burgers and Brews in Portage.
“I’ve spent virtually twenty years constructing a status for profitable eating places. I’ve by no means been burned by an investor or a companion,” Martinez stated. “I nonetheless imagine within the Pizza Terra model, and we hope to reopen with a brand new chef.”
JGR Restaurant, Inc. fashioned in Might 2022 to function the Italian restaurant, which was situated in a renovated service station on the nook of Ind. 149 and U.S. 20.
Branshaw, who was working as a chef at Lucrezia Cafe in Chesterton, had agreed to be the top chef at Pizza Terra.
Whereas Branshaw was a companion, he invested a restricted sum of money. Martinez acknowledged that he obtained loans and oversaw the conversion of the service station constructing right into a restaurant, which opened its doorways in March 2023, the lawsuit says.
There have been issues from the beginning as Branshaw demanded that he be paid a $100,000 wage.
Branshaw can also be alleged in November 2024 to have filed a doc that known as for him to be listed because the “governing particular person” for JGR with the Indiana Secretary of State’s workplace. Branshaw is alleged to have fraudulently achieved this with out Martinez’s information, the lawsuit says.
Martinez was the topic of slanderous remarks that Branshaw made to staff, and Eaton joined on this exercise, the lawsuit says.
The scenario got here to a head earlier this 12 months when Branshaw claimed that an individual who had lent cash to assist begin the enterprise wasn’t repaid. Martinez stated the person had been paid the $5,000 he was owed.
There was a showdown between Branshaw and Martinez once they met with the accountant in April.
Throughout that assembly, Martinez was served with a letter by Branshaw’s lawyer that claimed “there was alarming irregularities within the monetary administration, together with improper payroll dealing with and money funds to staff geared toward avoiding tax reporting and time beyond regulation compensation.”
“These actions not solely compromise the monetary integrity of Pizza Terra, but in addition place important private, monetary, and authorized burdens on Mr. Branshaw,” stated the letter signed by Daniel Timm, the counsel for Branshaw.
Timm, in his letter to Martinez in April, stated that if the issues with payroll and enterprise practices weren’t rectified, that Branshaw was “ready to provoke litigation instantly.”
“Our intention is to resolve these points amicably; nevertheless, we’re ready to take additional authorized actions to guard Mr. Branshaw’s pursuits and people of Pizza Terra.” Timm’s letter stated.
The Put up-Tribune left a message for Timm in search of extra remark Tuesday.
Branshaw additionally made a suggestion to buy the 50% share of the Pizza Terra enterprise, the letter stated.
Martinez claims that Branshaw’s supply was “an extortion try” to achieve management of the enterprise as a result of Branshaw was absolutely conscious of the restaurant’s monetary operation, the lawsuit says.
Jim Woods is a contract reporter for the Put up-Tribune.
