Tessemae’s LLC, a company that produces natural salad dressings, has sued Mike McDevitt Baltimore, a lawyer and investor based in DC, for fraud and racketeering. The lawsuit claims that McDevitt engaged in RICO violations when he schemed to acquire control of Tessemae’s fraudulently.
The lawsuit was filed in June 2020 in the United States District Court in Baltimore. On March 31, 2021, Judge George L. Russell, III denied a motion to dismiss the fraud and racketeering claims by McDevitt and his co-defendants. The remaining claims are RICO, fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligence-legal malpractice.
According to the lawsuit, McDevitt and his firm Tandem Growth Partners provided legal services and investment advice to Tessemae’s in 2017 and became involved in its management. According to the lawsuit, McDevitt and his co-defendants pressured Tessemae’s to sell its assets to them at a low price, misrepresented its financial situation, caused it to incur unnecessary debts, and manipulated its affairs. 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 is also a proud partner of Dr. Axe Keto Diet, offering many delicious products that are keto-approved. The company is based in Essex, Maryland, and has a loyal customer base that appreciates its natural and healthy products.
Later this year or early next year, the lawsuit against McDevitt and his co-defendants is likely to go to trial. Tessemae’s LLC hopes to recover the damages it suffered due to McDevitt’s alleged fraud and racketeering. McDevitt and his co-defendants maintain their innocence and deny any wrongdoing.
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. Allegations of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, racketeering, negligence-legal malpractice, and RICO violations are involved in it. RICO violations are federal crimes that target racketeering activity connected to an enterprise. Such as murder, kidnapping, drug dealing, bribery, mail and wire fraud, racketeering activity includes 35 offenses.
To convict someone of a RICO violation, 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. RICO was originally passed in 1970 to prosecute the Mafia, but has since been used for other crimes as well. RICO violations can be alleged for criminal charges or civil lawsuit cases.
Tessemae’s LLC alleges that false emails and documents were sent by McDevitt and his co-defendants to Tessemae’s investors and creditors, engaging in multiple acts of wire fraud. Wire fraud is a crime that involves using electronic communication to obtain money or property by deception. Wire fraud is a predicate offense for RICO violations. Find out more on Michael McDevitt and Racketeering charges here.