Bernard James Freeman, a.k.a. Bun B, is working for free at his Houston-based Trill Burgers fast food restaurant.
A judge froze revenue from the popular eatery amid accusations of financial misappropriation and recipe theft.
All income from Trill Burgers is frozen, which could disrupt paychecks to workers and vendors.
According to court documents obtained by KPRC 2, siblings Benson and Patsy Vivare filed a temporary injunction against Bun B.
The plaintiffs accused the rap icon of stealing their recipe for the restaurant’s popular Smashburgers. The Vivares were forced out as managers by the former owners before Bun B took over Trill Burgers. Now they claim he owes them money.
“The wrongdoing includes forming and operating competing businesses, misappropriation of corporate opportunities, misappropriation of assets, other breaches of fiduciary duties,” according to the lawsuit. “Anyone acting in concert with them or at their instruction… Trill Burgers, LLC will be irreparably injured, including by loss of customers, loss of assets, loss of goodwill, disruption and cessation of business operations, diminution in value, and lost profits which are difficult or incapable of being ascertained.”
Bun B is fighting back. He is planning to appeal the injunction and the judge’s ruling, according to reports.
“I do not believe the order will survive appellate scrutiny if there is ever any actual effort to post the bond, serve the required parties and have it enforced,” Bun B’s attorney Charles D. Adams told KPRC.
“The plan moving forward: Trill Burgers will continue to serve the best hamburgers in Houston, Trill Burgers is still marching forward with its claims against the Vivares, Trill Burgers will seek appropriate relief from the Court of Appeals when necessary, and the ownership team of Trill Burgers is still looking forward to their day before a trier of fact, whether it be an arbitrator or a jury, to further expose the simple truths of this dispute and obtain an award of the appropriate compensation for the alleged bad acts of their former colleagues Patsy and Benson Vivares.”
Bun B is best known as one half of the southern rap duo UGK (UnderGround Kingz) alongside the late rap legend Pimp C (Chad Lamont Butler).
