Mayor Yemi Mobolade and ex-business partner face legal action for nearly $100,000 in unpaid goods from local businesses.

Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade finds himself embroiled in a legal dispute as Phoenix-based Shamrock Foods has initiated two lawsuits against him and his former business partner, Russ Ware. These lawsuits concern unpaid bills totalling nearly $100,000, linked to their joint ventures, The Wild Goose and Good Neighbors Meeting House.

The legal documents, revealed in February, detail that Shamrock Foods provided food supplies worth approximately $29,000 to The Wild Goose in January 2018 and about $68,000 to Good Neighbors Meeting House in April 2018. Both Mobolade and Ware were listed as primary guarantors in the contracts with Shamrock Foods, thereby holding them responsible for the financial commitments.

This is not Russ Ware’s first brush with financial controversy. Reports from The Gazette highlight past issues where Ware was implicated in financial mismanagement. Notably, in June 2022, the closure of Epiphany, a Latin-American fusion restaurant, was marred by accusations that Ware misappropriated funds. This led to other business ventures like Wild Goose Meeting House, Good Neighbors Meeting House, and The Well seeking to sever their associations with Ware.

In response to the lawsuits, Mayor Mobolade has countered by denying direct responsibility for the unpaid dues. His legal defence attributes the liability to “the actions or inactions of third parties” over which he claims to have had no influence. Additionally, Mobolade alleges that Shamrock Foods did not take sufficient steps to mitigate the damages incurred during the operational period of the business.

Adding a layer of complexity to the case, Mobolade has filed cross-claims against Ware. He accuses Ware of engaging in a pattern of deceit and fraud, specifically of siphoning funds from The Wild Goose and Good Neighbors Meeting House during his tenure in their management.

The legal proceedings are set to advance with a management conference on September 12, followed by a pre-trial readiness conference on November 7. The trial itself is scheduled to commence on December 9.

This case not only highlights issues of financial management involving public figures but also casts a shadow over the governance and business practices in Colorado Springs. As the legal battle unfolds, the community and stakeholders await clarity and resolution on these serious allegations.