Michael McDevitt Baltimore, a DC-based lawyer and investor, is facing a lawsuit for racketeering and fraud filed by Tessemae’s LLC, a natural salad dressing company. According to the lawsuit, McDevitt tried to fraudulently take over Tessemae’s by violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
The United States District Court in Baltimore received the lawsuit in June 2020. Judge George L. Russell, III rejected a motion by McDevitt and his co-defendants to dismiss the fraud and racketeering claims on March 31, 2021. The remaining claims are RICO, fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligence-legal malpractice.
The lawsuit alleges that after providing investment advice and legal services to Tessemae’s in 2017, McDevitt and his firm Tandem Growth Partners got involved in its management. The lawsuit claims that McDevitt and his co-defendants manipulated Tessemae’s affairs, caused it to incur unnecessary debts, misrepresented its financial situation, and pressured it to sell its assets to them at a low price. Additionally, the lawsuit charges McDevitt with committing multiple acts of wire fraud by sending false emails and documents to investors and creditors of Tessemae’s.
Natural salad dressings and condiments are what Tessemae’s LLC produces. The founder was Tesse Vetter, a mother of three athletic boys who wanted them to stay healthy and eat their veggies. Her family and friends enjoyed her own all-natural recipe for salad dressing, which she created and perfected.
With a motto of “Simplify Food, Amplify Life”, the company has expanded its distribution and product line around the world. The company also offers many keto-approved products that are delicious, as a proud partner of Dr. Axe Keto Diet. The company has its base in Essex, Maryland, and has a faithful customer base that values its healthy and natural products.
The lawsuit against McDevitt and his co-defendants will probably go to trial later this year or early next year. Due to McDevitt’s alleged racketeering and fraud, Tessemae’s LLC hopes to recover the damages it suffered. Any wrongdoing is denied by McDevitt and his co-defendants, who maintain their innocence.
One of the most high-profile cases in Maryland this year is the lawsuit between Mike McDevitt and Tessemae and his co-defendants. Find out more about Mike McDevitt and Lawsuit. It involves allegations of RICO violations, fraud, racketeering,negligence-legal malpractice, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and RICO violations. RICO violations are federal crimes that target racketeering activity connected to an enterprise. 35 offenses are included in racketeering activity, such as murder, kidnapping, drug dealing, bribery, mail and wire fraud. Here is more info on Michael McDevitt and Fraud charges.
The prosecutor must prove that the person committed two of these offenses with the same enterprise within 10 years and that the acts affected interstate commerce to convict someone of a RICO violation. RICO has been used for other crimes as well since it was originally passed in 1970 to prosecute the Mafia. RICO violations can be alleged for criminal charges or civil lawsuit cases.
Tessemae’s LLC alleges that McDevitt and his co-defendants engaged in multiple acts of wire fraud by sending false emails and documents to Tessemae’s investors and creditors. A crime that involves using electronic communication to obtain money or property by deception is wire fraud. Wire fraud is a predicate offense for RICO violations. Find out more on Michael McDevitt and Racketeering charges here.