Bernie Moreno

financial/corruption · 2005-07-01 · Herb Chambers Companies, Moreno's former employer where he had risen through management from 1993 to 2005, sued Moreno in Middlesex County, Massachusetts in July 2005, shortly after Moreno left to acquire his own Mercedes-Benz dealership in North Olmsted, Ohio. The suit alleged Moreno misappropriated confidential company data and used Chambers' business resources to poach customers, claiming he sold roughly 20 cars through his new dealership to former Chambers customers in violation of a confidentiality agreement, and that he improperly advertised his Ohio dealership in Massachusetts. Moreno contested the suit. Reporting indicates the litigation ended in a settlement that was later overturned, though the exact final disposition and any monetary terms have not been publicly detailed. · Litigation reportedly ended in a settlement that was later overturned; final disposition and monetary terms undisclosed in available reporting.

Sources: cleveland.com

financial/corruption · 2014-01-01 · Michael Falcone, hired in 2012 as general sales manager of a Moreno-owned Porsche dealership in North Olmsted, Ohio, sued Moreno in 2014 after being terminated. Falcone alleged Moreno had promised him $80,000 in base pay plus a 5% commission on the dealership's total variable gross profit, but never paid the promised commission despite repeated requests for sales documentation to verify the calculations. Falcone further alleged that after he pressed for the compensation, management demoted him from general manager to used-car manager, stripped his responsibilities, and ultimately terminated him in January 2014. He also alleged his termination paperwork was altered after he signed it — with a "permanent reduction in force" designation whited out and replaced with a designation citing unsatisfactory performance — without his knowledge or consent. Moreno and Falcone settled the case out of court in March 2016; settlement terms, including any monetary amount, were not disclosed. · Settled out of court in March 2016; terms confidential/undisclosed.

Sources: Ohio Capital Journal · Cleveland Scene · WKYC

ethics-violation · 2015-01-01 · Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Ohio · Three discrimination lawsuits (gender, racial, and age/gender) were filed against Moreno's dealership group and settled out of court on confidential terms. No court found liability; cases resolved by settlement.

Sources: WTOL / AP · WOSU Public Media / AP

financial/corruption · 2017-01-01 · Middlesex County Superior Court, Massachusetts (Justice Michael Ricciuti) · Jury verdict against defendants; court ordered Moreno to pay $416,160 to two former employees (Omar Adem and a second salesperson) for unpaid overtime wages, including damages and attorney fees.

Sources: NBC4i / WCMH-TV · WKYC · AOL / Business Insider

obstruction-perjury · 2020-01-01 · Middlesex County Superior Court, Massachusetts (Justice Michael Ricciuti) · Justice Ricciuti sanctioned Moreno for destroying overtime pay records during pending litigation. The court issued an adverse inference instruction permitting the jury to infer that the destroyed evidence was damaging to Moreno's defense.

Sources: NBC4i / WCMH-TV · Ohio Democrats / Public Now · Trellis Law (court docket)