A million dollar fraud lawsuit has been served to HGTV’s “Fixer Upper” star Chip Gaines, thanks to Gaines’ two partners he brought out.
Former co-owners of Magnolia Realty, John L. Lewis and Richard L. Clark, filed a 24-page suit against Gaines, claiming the reality host “bought them out” just two days prior to the national broadcast of the hit television show, which “prominently featured the ‘Magnolia’ brand name.”
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According to KWTX, Lewis and Clark were equal partners alongside Gaines in founding of the real estate company in 2007.
Gaines was reportedly devising plans for “Fixer Upper” for months while working alongside Lewis and Clark.
Lewis and Clark allege Gaines persuaded both men to sell their 1/3 ownership stakes for $2,500 apiece, while failing to inform the value of the pieces would soon “skyrocket” from popularity of the show.
“In summary, at a time when only the Defendants knew that Fixer Upper had been fast-tracked for a one-hour premiere on HGTV and was on the verge of radically changing their lives and business enterprises, Chip Gaines conspired to eliminate his business partners — notwithstanding their longstanding friendship — in order to ensure that he alone would profit from Magnolia Realty’s association with Fixer Upper,” the lawsuit stated.
“We are confident that these claims will be found to be meritless,” Gaines’ attorney, Jordan Mayfield, told KWTX. Mayfield said he is disappointed to see people try to “take advantage of the hard work and success of Chip and Joanna Gaines.”
Original article and photo published on www.nydailynews.com.
