Former Verve CEO Bill Weinstein has filed a lawsuit against the talent agency, alleging he was improperly fired from the company on February 19 by two partners looking to sell the company.
Weinstein’s lawsuit, filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, accuses Verve partners Brian Besser and Adam Levine of violating the agency’s charter agreement through steps the two took earlier this month to fire Weinstein for cause. The complaint asserts that Besser and Levin’s goal was to sell the agency and deprive Weinstein of his stake. According to the complaint, Weinstein owns 25% of Verve, which Weinstein, Besser and Levin founded in 2009.
“The conduct of Levin and Besser was and continues to be egregious, malicious, in violation of their operating agreement and the fiduciary and other duties they owe to Weinstein and are therefore enforceable,” the complaint states. “With Weinstein now safely out of the picture, Levin and Besser are looking to sell Verve without Weinstein’s involvement and with no intention of pocketing the proceeds of the sale despite the fact that he owns more than 25% of Verve.”
A Verve spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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