WHO WOULD BUY FROM THIS COMPANY? NO ONE Lakeland Businessman Suing Canadian Company Over Breach of Contract, Theft
Published: Friday, November 9, 2012 at 10:53 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, November 9, 2012 at 10:53 p.m.
LAKELAND | No, Canada!
Ken Richardson claims he was cheated out of more than $100,000 in a Canada-based company named Route1.
CALVIN KNIGHT | THE LEDGER A Lakeland businessman says an Ontario-based high-tech company has taken him for a $100,000 ride.
Ken Richardson, 57, a former Polk County commissioner, has been wrangling with Route1 in Toronto since 2008.
In late October, he sued the company in Bartow-based 10th Circuit Court, charging he is the victim of grand theft, fraud, breach of contract and deceptive and unfair trade practices
Richardson accuses Route1 of changing the terms of an investment agreement he had with it to sell a high-tech component. He said the bad business deal has just about bankrupted him and has forced him to sell personal possessions and cash-in a life insurance policy.
State Attorney Jerry Hill said Richardson's problems illustrate some of the dangers involved when doing business with foreign companies.
"You assume some risks when you deal with folks in a different jurisdiction," he said.
What's happened to Richardson may be criminal or may be cause of a civil case, Hill said
There's no question that the man was clearly wronged," he said. "But we do not have jurisdiction."
Repeated phone messages left by The Ledger this week for Route1 CEO Tony Busseri and President Brian Brunetti were not returned.
ACTIVATION DISAGREEMENT
The relationship between Richardson, his company Six X Telecom and Route1 started off just fine. Richardson said he was the chief Florida vendor for the company's MobiKEY device, which allows computer users to have controlled, remote access to their computer systems