By Kelly Doran
Sun staff
Michael Hudson, former assistant treasurer for Frisch’s Restaurants, and a Union Township resident, is denying the claim he stole from the company.
The company filed a lawsuit against Michael Hudson, his wife, Pamela Hudson, H-3 Development, LLC, WPMH Properties, LLC and Wade Pyles on January 20, according to court documents.
Frisch’s estimated in January that Michael Hudson stole about $3.3 million, according to a press release from the company. Michael Hudson was treasurer from 2004 until he resigned on Dec. 17, 2014, according to court documents.
Michael Hudson filed an answer to the claims made by Frisch’s on February 17. He said in court documents he did not fraudulently take money and transfer funds to himself, his wife, his children, other members of his family, companies he formed and Pyles.
Frisch’s claims that when Michael Hudson put together payroll, he increased the amount of money paid into his own account and created another payroll file to pay himself even more, which Michael Hudson denies, according to court documents.
Michael Hudson also denies in his response that he used money he stole from Frisch’s to purchase property for himself, his family and his businesses and business associates.
Pamela Hudson, Michael Hudson’s wife, said in court documents her husband did not transfer stolen money to her and she did not receive property paid for by the stolen funds.
Pamela Hudson said she did not have any knowledge of her husband stealing money from the company and putting that money into their joint bank accounts in court documents.
Pamela Hudson also denies knowledge of her husband using the money to purchase property, according to documents.
Both WPMH Properties and Pyles said that Michael Hudson did not transfer stolen money to them their responses to Frisch’s claims.
Both companies responded that they have no knowledge of Michael Hudson using stolen money to purchase property for them.
WPMH Properties also denies knowledge that it is a for-profit liability company that includes Pyles and Michael Hudson as members. Michael Hudson said that claim is false in court documents.
Pyles said he is not Michael Hudson’s business partner in WPMH Properties, and Michael Hudson said he has no knowledge that Pyles is his partner, according to court documents.
Frisch’s has filed three counts against Michael Hudson and the other defendants: fraud claim and conversion against Michael Hudson and unjust enrichment against all defendants, according to court documents.
The company is asking for full restitution for the money stolen, according to the release. Frisch’s is putting checks and balances into its system to prevent this from happening again.
Michael Hudson requested in court documents that the case be dismissed at Frisch’s expense and the restitution requested be denied.