Candidate for Macomb Twp. supervisor sued
Former business partner claims Grabow owes more than $300K
Macomb Township supervisor candidate Mark Grabow’s limousine company is being sued by a former partner who claims Grabow owes him more than $300,000.
Nicholas Kokas filed the lawsuit in January in Macomb County Circuit Court, alleging breach of contract, unjust enrichment and broken promises.
Kokas says in the lawsuit he had been operating Distinguished Limousines for 11 years in Novi in 2010 when he joined up with Grabow, who was two years into a four-year term as Macomb Township supervisor. Kokas became vice president of Brentwood to help operate the business so Grabow could devote more time on township matters.
The lawsuit, filed through attorney Bradley Defoe, says Kokas was to receive 8 percent commission on income, and 100 percent or nearly 100 percent when Kokas served as the driver for a client. Kokas claims Grabow has failed to live up to the deal.
“While Mr. Kokas has lived up to his end of the bargain, Brentwood Limousine and Mr. Grabow have not,” the lawsuit says. “The balance due – currently exceeding $300,000 – continues to grow, and Mr. Grabow refuses to even offer a plan as to how this debt will be paid.”
Grabow, on the other hand, portrays a different scenario, alleging Kokas is the one who failed to follow the agreement. He called the lawsuit a “political ploy.”
He noted the filing of the lawsuit came within days of his filing to run for supervisor. Grabow will face Frank Viviano in the August primary for the Republican nomination. The primary winner will take the seat because no Democrat is running.
Grabow admitted he owes Kokas money, but only about $25,000. He said Kokas took more money than he deserved and failed to follow “requirements,” “protocols” and “standard” of the contract.
“He couldn’t handle the work,” he said. “We covered the work.”
Brentwood, located in Fraser, typically brings in more than $1 million per year, Grabow said.
Kokas claims Grabow kicked him out of the partnership last summer.
“Brentwood Limousine locked him out of the company’s email and reservations systems, erased all references to Mr. Kokas from the company’s website, and removed him as the administrator of the company’s Facebook page,” attorney Defoe told The Macomb Daily. “He is no longer able to service the clients he brought to Brentwood or any other Brentwood clients.”
The complaint alleges at the time of the partnership formation, Brentwood’s “reputation was failing, and many national affiliate companies has ceased doing business with it.”
Kokas brought expertise to Brentwood, as he improved technology and operations, “revamped Brentwood Limousine’s rate structure, making the company more competitive” in the region, state and nation, and saved the company thousands of dollars in insurance premiums.
Through his involvement in industry trade publications and organizations, “Brentwood Limousine has become a recognized brand within the industry and enjoys strong relationships with many national affiliate companies,” the lawsuit contends.
Grabow served one four-year term as supervisor.
Grabow in 2017 said he submitted documents that the FBI used for part of its case against former Macomb Township trustee Dino Bucci, who was indicted on 18 counts related to public corruption: including six counts of theft and three counts each of bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery. Bucci also worked as a top official in the county Public Works office. Bucci’s case remains pending, but he is scheduled for a May 28 plea hearing and June 9 trial in U.S. District Court.
Kokas’ lawsuit, assigned to business court Judge Richard Caretti, is pending.