Uncle Nearest Receiver Accuses Fawn Weaver Of Breaking NDA And Trying To Sway Public Opinion – AfroTech
The judge-appointed receiver of Uncle Nearest claims that Fawn Weaver is trying to sway public opinion.
As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. will soon determine if the receivership will be expanded to include 4 Front Street LLC, Grant Sidney Inc., Humble Baron Inc., Nashwood Inc., Quill & Cask Owner LLC, Shelbyville Barrel House BBQ LLC, and Shelbyville Grand LLC — as requested by receiver Phillip Young Jr. — or be terminated, as requested by Fawn and her husband Keith.
Weaver, the CEO and founder of the whiskey brand, added “Follow The Case” to FawnWeaver.com, reports the Lexington Herald-Leader. In a March 5 filing, Young argued that this move contradicts Judge Atchley’s order warning against trying the case in public, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
“It has become clear that [Fawn Weaver’s filing last week] was intended for social media consumption, not to guide this Court in making its decision. This past week, Fawn Weaver has openly, and in defiance of this Court’s orders, discussed the Response, the hearing, and her version of the facts of this case on Instagram, in a “Follow the Case” link on fawnweaver.com,” Young said in the March 5 filing.
He also noted that, at the CIAA conference this weekend in Baltimore, MD, Weaver “openly discussed her opinion of the testimony offered at the hearing and even flouted that she intentionally violated a non-disclosure agreement she had entered into with the receiver regarding the dissemination of cash flow projections,” reports the Lexington Herald-Leader.
“This is clearly an attempt to try this case in the court of public opinion, which the Court explicitly forbade in its Order setting these hearings,” the receiver argued. “Even the responses of the Related Entities support their inclusion into this receivership action.”
Judge Atchley had previously stated that there could be sanctions for anyone involved in the case who treats it, or whose counsel treats it, “as a public relations campaign,” per the Lexington Herald-Leader.
The issues at Uncle Nearest began after it defaulted on more than $108 million in loans from Farm Credit Mid-America, with the blame placed on its former chief financial officer, Mike Senzaki, by the Weavers, as AFROTECH™ previously reported.
Young argues that Uncle Nearest is insolvent and claims that more than $200 million is a more accurate depiction of its debt, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
Judge Atchley is expected to share an update regarding the receivership’s expansion or termination in March.
