GRETNA – A coffee house's owners claim that a manager stole company funds.
Santa Maria Coffeehouse LLC, Zeppole Inc., Real Coffee Inc., Real Nina LLC and Real Pinta LLC filed a suit Jan. 16 against David Varnado in the 24th Judicial District Court alleging breach of contract.
According to the claim, the plaintiff is seeking damages for an incident that took place beginning in 2005. The suit states the defendant was hired at the salary of $1,000 a week to manage the plaintiff's stores. As a manager, the defendant has certain responsibilities to uphold and was negligent in failing to uphold these duties. The suit states that the defendant in fact improperly obtained $500,000 from the company's funds.
The defendant is accused of breach of contract and fiduciary duty.
The plaintiff is seeking all reasonable sums due, attorney fees and court costs. The plaintiff is represented by Donald C. Douglas Jr. of Mandeville.
The case has been assigned to Division P Judge Lee Faulkner Jr.
The 24th Judicial District Court Case No. is 779614.