Thai Express owner facing lawsuits from landlord, vendor

A landlord and vendor filed separate lawsuits this month in Greene County Circuit Court against Springfield restaurateur Patrick Netthongkome Jr., aka Patrick Nett.

Plaintiffs J&L Investments LLC and James Tillman allege in an Oct. 2 petition that Nett and his Thai Express Inc. business have defaulted on payments owed, setting up potential eviction proceedings. Separately, Springfield Grocer Co., dba SGC Foodservice, on Oct. 17 filed a lawsuit alleging Nett and his Thai Express Inc. and Nett Restaurant Group LLC businesses owe a sizable unpaid grocery bill.

Nett could not be reached for comment by deadline on both of the lawsuits. As of deadline, Missouri online court records did not list an attorney representing Nett in either suit.

Landlord lawsuit
The lawsuit from J&L Investments and Tillman alleges that in 2022, Nett and Thai Express entered into a limited investment agreement to pay Tillman 2.5% of monthly sales from Thai Express, 2113 W. Republic Road, which Nett agreed to lease from J&L Investments on Aug. 5, 2021.

According to the petition, Nett’s 2.5% royalty payments were to be paid quarterly to Tillman in exchange for Tillman’s co-signing of a $250,000 line of credit between Nett and Thai Express and Legacy Bank & Trust Co.

The investment agreement provides for eviction proceedings to commence if Nett and Thai Express became delinquent for 45 days on royalty payments. It also provides for a lien against all assets and equipment owned by Thai Express, such that “the fixed and non-fixed assets of (Nett and Thai Express) would become the sole property of Tillman and J&L Investments LLC.”

The petition alleges Nett and Thai Express have defaulted on payments in excess of $80,000 and that "due to defendants’ ongoing and continuing breach, plaintiffs’ have suffered irreparable harm for which there is no adequate remedy at law."

Vendor lawsuit
Springfield Grocer Co., dba SGC Foodservice, on Oct. 17 filed a three-count lawsuit in Greene County Circuit Court against Nett and his Thai Express Inc. and Nett Restaurant Group LLC businesses.

The lawsuit alleges the defendants owe a grocery bill of $63,528 for services rendered as of Oct. 1. The litigation seeks the full amount, plus interest and court costs, and notes the parties entered into a contract for services in April 2022.

"Plaintiff performed per the contract," the lawsuit reads. "Although separate defendants Thai Express Inc. and Patrick Netthongkome accepted the grocery goods and services while at the same time promising to pay for same, they have failed, refused and totally neglected to pay for such benefits as agreed. As a result of separate defendants Thai Express Inc.'s and Patrick Netthongkome’s breach of contract, plaintiff has been damaged."

The lawsuit includes two counts alleging breach of contract and one count alleging unjust enrichment.

Earlier this year, now-defunct Schuchmann Meat Co. and its owners sued Nett and his businesses, alleging he embezzled funds as part of a planned acquisition of the company, according to past reporting. Missouri court records show the case is ongoing, with defendants filing a motion to dismiss the case on June 21. 

Following the Schuchmann Meat lawsuit in May, Nett's Simply Thai venture at 2808 S. Campbell Ave. closed its doors this summer.