Schuchmann Meat sues restaurateur

The now-defunct Schuchmann Meat Co. and its owners have filed suit against a Springfield restaurateur, alleging he embezzled funds as part of a planned acquisition of the company.

The lawsuit, filed May 13 in Greene County Circuit Court, names Patrick Netthongkome Jr., aka Patrick Nett, as well as Thai Express Inc., Nett Restaurant Group LLC, dba Simply Thai, and Nett Meat Co. LLC. The seven-count petition includes alleged charges of embezzlement, breach of contract, fraud and unjust enrichment.

Nett and his attorney listed in the suit, John Spurlock of Keck & Phillips LLC, could not be reached for comment by deadline. Megan N. Creson of Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law LLC is listed as the plaintiff attorney.

In the lawsuit, Schuchmann Meat Co. and Chad and Julie Schuchmann allege that as part of a verbal agreement to buy the business, Nett agreed to pay a certain sum at the end of a 12-month period in exchange for the Schuchmanns fronting money for a new business bank account and later transferring the business to Nett. The financial amounts are redacted in the court filing.

"Within a period of three months, Chad and Julie learned the account was drained and the business storefront was barren," the lawsuit alleges. "As a direct and proximate result of the representations of Patrick, the business is now valueless and ... closed and the account emptied without any consideration paid to plaintiffs, all to plaintiffs’ detriment."

Nett is accused in the lawsuit of embezzling more than $35,000. He's also accused of allegedly using inventory from Schuchmann Meat for Nett Meat.

The lawsuit further alleges Nett used the funds to keep Thai Express and Simply Thai operating and to prevent a foreclosure of his home.

The lawsuit seeks damages due under the agreement cited in the petition, as well as recovery for reputational damages from Schuchmann Meat's closure.

Schuchmann Meat debuted in Springfield in 2021 before expanding to multiple locations, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.