WICHITA — Auto dealer Mel Hambelton is suing longtime business partners Freddie A. LaGreca and Freddie R. LaGreca alleging breach of a promissory note, among other things.
According to the lawsuit, which was filed this month in Sedgwick County District Court, the suit relates to the LaGrecas buying Hambelton out of a car dealership they had in Hutchinson.
Hambelton and Freddie R. LaGreca started Hambelton-LaGreca Chevrolet, Geo, Pontiac in 1989. The suit says Hambelton owned 75 percent and LaGreca, who operated the business day-to-day, owned the rest.
The suit says Hambelton had almost no involvement with the Hutchinson dealership and instead focused on his Mel Hambelton Ford in Wichita.
Freddie A. LaGreca also was involved in the Hutchinson dealership.
The suit says Hambelton entered into a stock purchase agreement with the LaGrecas in 2003 and that the LaGrecas made payments on their promissory note to him from 2003 through 2009.
The suit alleges the LaGrecas have not made monthly payments since December 2009.
Hambelton is asking for $524,084 plus interest and attorneys fees over the alleged nonpayment.
David Morgan, Hambelton’s attorney, declined to discuss the lawsuit.
Neither Hambelton nor the LaGrecas returned calls for comment.