PORTLAND, OR (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Portland-based concert promoter Mike Thrasher has filed suit against his partners at the Hawthorne Theatre, alleging that they pocketed money and drove away prospective shows by nearly doubling the booking fees. Thrasher runs Mike Thrasher Presents, which books shows in Oregon and Washington markets. Thrasher says he invested $97,000 in 2007 to join Hawthorne as a half-owner.

According to the Courthouse News, Thrasher says that two years after joining Hawthorne, the other co-owner Nicholas J. Yannariello, decamped to Hawaii and hired others to handle his job. Thrasher also claims that Yannariello raised the rent at the theatre to nearly three times the amount being charged at comparable venues.

Thrasher contends in the suit that an investigation of the theatres finances revealed that Yannariello allegedly had secretly given himself a raise, spent company money on his wedding and paid employees in cash in violation of the company's shareholder agreements.

Thrasher claims that when he confronted Yannariello, Yannariello threatened to expose Trasher Presents trade secrets by publicising Thrasher's billing procedures.

Thrasher is seeking to have the corporation dissolved, a court-appointed receiver to unravel the company's books, a court order to prevent Yannariello from "disparag(ing) any booking agent, vendor or supplier,", a return of booking rates at the club to $400 and $114,000 in compensation for the money Yannariello's allegedly misappropriated. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers

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