NEW ORLEANS – A manufacturer of commercial boats says a marine broker doing business in Louisiana backed out of a deal to buy engines but kept the $100,000 down payments.
Inland & Offshore Contractors filed a lawsuit Nov. 3 in Eastern District Court against International Marine Sales and Export and its principal, David Hasselman, citing fraud, conversion, breach of contract and civil theft.
According to the complaint, in April Hasselman agreed to sell four Cummins marine engines to Inland. lnland sent International Marine $100,000 in advance payments via two wire transfers. When the engines were not shipped by the date promised, Hasselman allegedly agreed to refund the payments. The suit says to date, no money has been refunded and the engines have not been delivered.
Inland seeks return of the $100,000 advance payments, plus interest and litigation costs. They are represented by Henry A. King and John Cangelosi of the New Orleans law firm of King, Krebs & Jurgens.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District Court case number 2:15-cv-5675