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Lisy Corp. Evicted From Warehouse as Part of a Series of Lawsuits Between Alberico Echemendia & Mari, Inc. Against William R. Huff Owned Companies

Thousands of Hispanic-Owned Food Companies Directly Affected

Alfonso Perez, Esq. of the Coral Gables-based Law Firm of Rasco Klock Reininger Perez Esquenazi Vigil & Nieto, is representing local area businessman Alberico Echemendia and his company Mari, Inc. in a series of lawsuits against Lisy Corp., a part of the New Jersey-based William R. Huff Companies. The Huff Alternative Fund, which was a private equity company that ambitiously attempted to purchase a number of Hispanic food companies across the country in 2006, has run into problems with management of these highly specialized products principally sold at small bodegas and Hispanic grocery stores. The Huff Equity Fund purchased Wisconsin Cheese and Lisy Corp. in Miami and El Chilar in Orlando, amongst others.

Mari, Inc. is countersuing Lisy Corp. in excess of $674,000, for a breached Escrow Agreement where Lisy Corp. is allegedly making unsubstantiated claims to the Escrowed Funds.

In a separate lawsuit, the courts rendered a final judgment in favor of Mari, Inc. requiring that Lisy Corp. pay nearly $400,000 for past due payments for equipment purchased from Mr. Echemendia, plus $94,000 in attorney's fees, for the capital lease of machinery and equipment being used by Lisy Corp. under the original purchase agreement, which was to have been paid on a monthly basis by Lisy Corp.

Echemendia and Sons were successful in court in having Lisy Corp. evicted from one of the Echemendia-owned warehouses it occupies in Miami-Dade County. Lisy Corp. still owes nearly $700,000 for future rent, which is currently being disputed in court as part of a separate lawsuit.

Lisy Corp. was also sued by Mojave Foods in 2007 for tampering with existing contracts Mojave had with grocery stores distributing Mojave products. Mojave is a subsidiary of McCormick Spice Co.

Upon information and belief, the owners of the brand, El Chilar, asked for the rights to take back the entity from Lisy management, who had not paid the prior owner the entire purchase price. Since 2006, millions of dollars have been lost by Lisy Corp. and the reputation of the brands it represents has been placed in jeopardy.

"I am saddened by the inability of the company's new management to relate to the small Hispanic-owned food markets, which formed the bulk of Lisy's client base," stated Mr. Alfonso Perez, Esq.

About The Firm

Founded in 1985, Rasco, Reininger, Perez, Esquenazi & Vigil, P.L. has been one of South Florida's premier law firms with more than 16 attorneys and 30 staff members, servicing the needs of domestic and international clients. The firm, now be known as Rasco Klock Reininger Perez Esquenazi Vigil and Nieto, is minority owned and operated and has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to community service and involvement. The firm represents public and private companies, governmental entities, and high net-worth individuals in a wide range of practice areas, which include: real estate, international business, litigation, corporate formation and governance, aviation law, financial institutions, trust and estate planning and administration, arts and entertainment, and government/environmental land use practices. For more information on the Firm, call 305-476-7100 or visit www.rrpev.com.