By: Associated Press//June 17, 2013//
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (AP) – A lawsuit claims billionaire hardware kingpin John Menard pressured the wife of a business partner to have sex with Menard and his wife and retaliated with firings and lawsuits when she turned him down.
Menard’s attorney says Menard categorically denies the claims by Tomisue Hilbert.
She accuses Menard in a lawsuit filed May 29 with extortion, battery, assault and breach of fiduciary duty for actions including the sacking of her husband, Steve Hilbert, as CEO of Indianapolis-based equity funds that the Hilberts and Menard founded in 2005.
Menard won a preliminary injunction in a Wisconsin court removing Steve Hilbert as CEO of the MH Private Equity funds.
Menard attorney Kevin Tyra said his client “categorically denies Tomisue Hilbert’s allegations and that Menard’s actions in connection with the funds were justified.