Case Dismissed: Barwest LLC v. Barron Mazel, Gretchen Belli, et al

Plaintiffs Barwest LLC and LCB Barwest LLC had filed a lawsuit last year in California's Central District Federal Court, against Barron Mazel, Barronhaus LTD and Gretchen Belli; asserting, among other things, interference with contract and fraud.

According to Court documents, the Court quickly ruled the Complaint was defective because the Plaintiffs had failed to disclose the identity and citizenship of all the members of the two LLCs. Something required to determine jurisdiction of the Court.

The Plaintiffs countered back explaining that there were currently two members of each of the LLCs: (1) a Marian Ilitch Trust Agreement and (2) a Michael J. Malik Living Trust and that both entities were domiciled in Michigan. Plaintiffs failed however to disclose who the Trustees or beneficiaries of those two entities were and so the court again asked for disclosure.

Shortly thereafter, the Plaintiffs opted to file for a dismissal of the case.

Was this just another one of the frivilous lawsuits that Michael Malik and Marian Ilitch bring upon others simply for the purpose of bullying? If not, then why did they abandon a legitimate claim?

Prior to he discovery of this lawsuit, few who were following the plans to bring an Indian casino to Barstow were aware of the defendants or what role they had played or were playing in the pursuit. Some further details came to light and it became clear that there was much strife and turmoil among and between Barwest (Michael Malik) and its partners.

A look at the Barronhaus Ltd. Web site suggests that Barron Mazel, founder and managing director of the firm, has been an investment banker specializing in corporate finance, project financing and mergers and acquisitions and leveraged transactions for the past 40 years; and that he counts among his clients Barwest LLC and the Los Coyotes Band of Indians.