Lisa Vanderpump Sued with Husband Ken Todd for Fraud, Lawsuit Over Gay Bar Feud Claims Denied by Bravo Star
Two businessmen filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump and husband Ken Todd, claiming they planned to open a sports-themed gay bar only to have their location taken by the Bravo stars via underhanded paperwork.
Ryan Carrillo and Andrew Gruver said Vanderpump and her husband stole the West Hollywood location where they planned to open their bar and restaurant called Bar Varsity.
In the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and later obtained by The Wrap, Carrillo and Gruver claimed they partnered with producer Elie Samaha, who agreed to invest $500,000 in the opening of the business. However, they allegedly never received the investment from Samaha and co-defendants Freddy Braidy and Edward Frumkes. The suit stated that Samaha and her partners instead leased the property to Vanderpump and Todd for their P.U.M.P. Lounge in breach of their agreement and "without the knowledge or consent of Plaintiffs."
Vanderpump and Todd were aware of the previous Bar Varsity agreement and "intended to disrupt the performance of the Agreement," according to the suit.
Carrillo and Gruver's allegations in their suit include breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, breach of contract, and deceit/misrepresentation. They requested a temporary restraining order and injunction to hold off further construction on the P.U.M.P. Lounge. They also asked for "[r]estitution to plaintiffs and disgorgement of all ill-gotten gains by Defendants," along with funding for lawsuit costs and interest.
Vanderpump and Todd released a joint statement Thursday denying their wrongdoing. The couple claimed that they had no prior knowledge of the plaintiffs and that they entered into their West Hollywood lease "in good faith."
"We had no prior knowledge of Ryan Carrillo and Andrew Gruver or their claim," the statement, released to the website, read. "We took the lease in good faith seven months ago and all of our applications and notices have been posted publicly. Any issue will be between them and the property owner."
