CLEARWATER, Fla. — Another lawsuit has been filed with ties to the local non-profit The Center for Special Needs Trust. 10 Investigates told you how the Florida Attorney General's office has filed a lawsuit against the founder of the trust Leo Govoni after $142 million dollars went missing. The latest lawsuit targets a business Govoni's son owns.
Newly filed court documents show an investor of Big Storm Brewing alleges that the brewery, its parent company and Leo Govoni's son L.J. embezzled millions of dollars from the special needs trust into Big Storm Brewing.
According to the documents, the investor, David Wenk, alleges he invested $3 million in the business for improvements at the Clearwater facility that didn't happen. He said L.J. misrepresented the investment as a Simple Agreement for Future Equity. He asked to take a look at the company's records in April. After going through documents, he said it exposed that Big Storm "served as a means for the Govonis to illegally divert and cleanse funds from the Special Needs Trust."
In a statement, L.J. Govoni responded to the filing saying:
“The claims made in this lawsuit are entirely false, baseless, and lack any factual foundation and are designed solely to tarnish my reputation and embarrass my family. Look no further than the fact that I first heard about the suit from the media. Mr. Wenk knows full well that I have absolutely nothing to do with the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration. I want to make it unequivocally clear that I have never engaged in any fraudulent activities or wrongdoing as alleged. These accusations are not only unfounded but also defamatory, and I am committed to fighting them vigorously. In response to this malicious attack on my character, I intend to take immediate legal action against Mr. Wenk and his associates. While the law affords a Plaintiff the right to allege wrongdoings, it does not allow them the right to their own fictious facts. The basis of Mr. Wenk’s lawsuit contradicts documents he himself signed stating his accreditation, sophistication, and the due diligence he performed on this investment. For him and his counsel to assert otherwise is nothing short of a bald-faced lie. I will not allow attacks on my character to go unchallenged and will pursue all available legal remedies.”
Wenk is suing in hopes of getting his money back with interest along with attorney's fees. All of the lawsuits L.J.'s dad is facing in connection to the missing $142 million from the Center for Special Needs Trust are civil lawsuits. Govoni has not faced any criminal charges.
Big Storm announced it is closing its Ybor City taproom on June 16. The company said:
“This decision was not made lightly, and we want to extend our deepest gratitude to all of you who have supported us. Our Ybor taproom has been a place of joy, creativity, and community since we opened our doors. The support and enthusiasm of our customers has been the heart of our taproom, and for that we are eternally grateful.
While this chapter is coming to an end, our commitment to crafting exceptional beers and spirits remains unwavering. We will continue to produce your favorite Big Storm beers and spirits, which are available at our other taprooms and at stores, restaurants, and bars throughout the Tampa Bay area.”