State of Oklahoma amends lawsuit against Swadley’s, highlights further issues with restaurant chain

OKLAHOMA City (KFOR) – Lawyers for the Point out of Oklahoma amended the state’s lawsuit towards Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen area, presenting new details on alleged issues in just the cafe chain.

The lawsuit in Oklahoma County District Courtroom stems from a controversial condition contract with Swadley’s.

The amended lawsuit states that Swadley’s personnel hired an “illegal” staff who later allegedly assaulted yet another employee.

It also claims household, not professional, smoke alarms were being installed in a person cafe.

The lawsuit, bundled below, lists quite a few methods in which Swadley’s allegedly breached its contact with the point out.

Swadley’s submitted a 73-web site remedy to the amended lawsuit, expressing the amended lawsuit “is little a lot more than an exertion to manufacture controversy and produce headlines.” That document is provided beneath:

Point out officers sought to boost customer experience at several condition parks, including investing in state-owned amenities across the condition.

“As portion of this expense in an enhanced customer knowledge, the Tourism Section decided to transform five dining establishments located in Oklahoma State Parks,” the lawsuit states. “The Tourism Section sought an experienced 3rd-get together to facilitate the transform and the day-to-day procedure of these restaurants.”

In the course of that time, in 2020, Swadley’s operated various places to eat in metropolitan areas and cities throughout the OKC metro area, and experienced practical experience remodeling and repurposing existing dining places.

Swadley's Foggy Bottom Kitchen sign on building exterior
Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen. Photograph from KFOR.

Officials say the Tourism Office paid $13 million to Swadley’s to renovate and run the Foggy Bottom Kitchens in specified Oklahoma point out parks.

Individuals payments include $2.1 million to deal with running losses in 2021. The present-day agreement requires the condition to spend up to $1.2 million for once-a-year working losses.

Property Speaker Charles McCall fashioned a exclusive Dwelling committee on April 28 to examine probable misuse of taxpayer money by means of seller agreements with the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Office.

Gov. Kevin Stitt announced on April 29 that he recognized the resignation of Jerry Winchester, who experienced served as Govt Director of the Tourism Section, and that he was submitting a lawsuit versus Swadley’s.

“The Tourism Section entered the Contract believing it to be a mutually advantageous arrangement that would advantage the Point out of Oklahoma, its citizens, and Swadley’s,” the lawsuit states. “While the Point out did receive some reward from the Agreement, unfortunately, the Deal eventually turned only helpful to Swadley’s and to Plaintiff’s detriment.”

The Frontier uncovered in May that Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell signed off on about $16.7 million worth of charges for the Foggy Bottom Kitchen area places to eat in Oklahoma condition parks. 

When Stitt introduced Winchester’s resignation, he also claimed Pinnell would get additional oversight of the Tourism Department.

Tourism and Recreation Section officers declared in April that the department was canceling the lease concession agreement with Swadley’s Foggy Base Kitchen area.