The Zachary Light-Bellator lawsuit in California is getting personal. Bellator has filed a Cross-Complaint against Light stating that he stole money from the company and did not pay back a loan given to him due to the fact he was in financial trouble.
Light filed the lawsuit claiming wrongful termination back in May in Los Angeles Superior Court. Bellator was granted an extension to respond to the Complaint and it’s also filed its own Complaint against Light filed July 12th.
The cross-claim digs right into Light stating that Light told Bellator, that, “despite his sizable income, he had difficulty managing his family budget and was experiencing financial distress.” Bellator loaned Light $9,403.00 and entered into a written agreement to pay back the loan. Bellator attached a copy of the alleged agreement as an Exhibit to its Cross-Complaint. The company also claims that Light stole $4,600 in cash from VIP ticket sales from Bellator 136. Bellator claims Light now owes $5,050.00 plus interest.
Conversion, the civil claim alleged by Bellator, is essentially stealing. It also claims theft under California law and a breach of written contract which alludes to the purported failure of Light to repay the loan.
Bellator claims that as part of his job, Light “would collect the money he received from the sale of consignment and VIP tickets in connection with Bellator events, and remit the money to Bellator personnel shortly after he received it from purchasers.” He would then give the money to Bellator’s Chief Financial Officer, Michael O’Roark or Jane Estioko, Manager of Talent Relations. However, Bellator claims that Bellator remitted to Bellator “at least some of the money” he failed to give “thousands of dollars he collected.” The Monday after the event, Bellator 136, Light did not report for work citing medical reasons.
With respect to his financial issues, Light and Bellator entered into an “Authorization for Deduction” on December 18, 2014 for $6,974.57 in which he would repay the loan in monthly installments of $240.50 from his paychecks. It also appears that Bellator was charging him interest on this loan. The exhibit to the Cross-Complaint is below.
Payout Perspective:
Light will have an opportunity to respond to these allegations. Obviously, these claims were filed as a result of Light’s lawsuit. The lawsuit is turning personal as Bellator infers the fact Light has had financial difficulties throughout. The loan was from December 2014 and the alleged theft occurred in April 2016. Were there any other issues in between this time that Bellator is holding back for the lawsuit or are these two issues the only claims against Light? Certainly Light will deny both claims.
The one question is why would Bellator give Light the responsibility of handling money on the company’s behalf if it believed he had an issue with finances. MMA Payout will keep you posted.
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