SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA (CelebrityAccess) — Former general manager Tim Reed has filed a lawsuit against the companies managing Vina Robles Amphitheatre, alleging breach of fiduciary duty, breach of both written and oral contract, fraud, involuntary dissolution and unfair business practices.
Reed, who formerly worked with promoters such as Bill Graham Presents, Live Nation and Clear Channel, claims he was instrumental to the construction of the venue, identifying the location on the Vina Robles Winery & Vineyards in Paso Robles in 2009 to serve as a location for the amphitheater, according to the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Reed asserts that he worked throughout 2010 on the amphitheater project, paving the way with city planners and defeating a legal challenge. Reed also maintains that he oversaw construction of the venue, which opened in 2013. However, in 2014, Reed was terminated Reed “for cause,” based unspecified violations of the employee handbook, the lawsuit states, and “forfeited and canceled” Reed’s shares in the companies.
According to the Tribune, Reed's contract stipulated that the 'with cause' clause of Reed's contract included an act of misappropriation, a felony criminal conviction, damage of Vina Robles property, negligence and “the repeated nonprescription use of any controlled substance or repeated use of alcohol” that reasonably hinders the employee’s ability to perform job duties.
The lawsuit calls Vina Robles management’s actions “willful, wanton, malicious and oppressive,” and it is seeking unspecified punitive damages, lawyers fees and restoration of Reed’s shares in the companies, the Tribune said.
A spokeswoman for Vina Robles told the Tribune, “The Vina Robles team is disappointed that Mr. Reed chose to file a lawsuit and denies Mr. Reed’s claims,” Michel wrote. “A detailed response and further comment will be made in the lawsuit through counsel for the Vina Robles entities and the individuals Mr. Reed has sued.” – Staff Writers
