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Lawsuit hinges on whether Tampa businesswoman was friends with Richard Branson

 
A lawsuit filed in Hillsborough circuit court hinges on whether Tampa health technology executive Lisa Monnet had a business relationship with Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson, shown here at Virgin America headquarters in California. [AP Photo/Jeff Chiu (2011)]
A lawsuit filed in Hillsborough circuit court hinges on whether Tampa health technology executive Lisa Monnet had a business relationship with Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson, shown here at Virgin America headquarters in California. [AP Photo/Jeff Chiu (2011)]
Published March 14, 2018

TAMPA — A deal between a Tampa cybersecurity firm and a health executive who heads the regional military support organization has disintegrated into a legal battle.

Nitro Mobile Solutions claims in a lawsuit filed in Hillsborough Circuit Court that Lisa Monnet cost the company money by misrepresenting whether she had a business relationship with Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group of businesses and Virgin Mobile.

In a counterclaim filed March 5, Monnet denies the allegations and said she terminated her relationship with Nitro because she was the victim of sexual harassment and because Nitro misled her about the company's finances.

Monnet is president of the Tampa Bay Defense Alliance, a nonprofit group that works with local business, military and government leaders to promote "a robust and growing defense community." The alliance operates on private and public grants, including money from the Florida Defense Support Task Force.

The lawsuit against Monnet claims she and her company, Eye C Solutions, a Tampa health-care technology firm, entered into a consulting agreement July 1 that would pay her $8,000 a month to help develop the business. The agreement would make her CEO of Nitro if she brought in $1 million in investments.

According to court records, both parties agree Monnet entered into an agreement with Nitro.

They differ, however, on key facts in the case — when Monnet sold Eye C Solutions and the relationship between her and Branson.

The lawsuit, filed in December by Nitro and its owners Peter and Mollie Slade, says Monnet identified Branson as a "good, personal friend" and potential investor.

The lawsuit contains what purports to be a non-disclosure agreement provided by Monnet and signed by Branson. The lawsuit says Nitro stopped seeking other investments, focusing solely on Virgin Mobile — a move that cost the company more than $100,000 in salary and expenses.

Monnet terminated her business relationship with Nitro on Nov. 17 after a planned meeting with Branson failed to materialize, the lawsuit says.

In her response to the suit, Monnet says she had no business or personal relationship with Branson and denies ever saying she did. In addition, she denies obtaining Branson's signature and attaching it to any non-disclosure document.

She also contends the business moves did not cost Nitro $100,000.

In the March 5 counterclaim, Monnet acknowledged she terminated the business relationship Nov. 17 but said she did so because she was being sexually harassed. She said a complaint has been filed with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

In addition, the counterclaim alleges Nitro "materially breached the contract by providing false financial data" and by failing to arbitrate the dispute before filing a lawsuit.

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On Tuesday, attorneys for Nitro filed a motion to dismiss Monnet's counterclaim.

Attorney Dean Kent, representing Nitro and the Slades, denied in a statement to the Tampa Bay Times that Monnet was the victim of sexual harassment. Kent said no such claim would apply under employment law because Monnet was never an employee of Nitro. Rather, he said, she was an independent contractor working through Eye C.

But attorney Samantha Dammer, representing Monnet, indicated to the Times that her client was an employee, pointing to an August news release, still available on the Internet, announcing Monnet's role as Nitro's CEO.

Contact Howard Altman at haltman@tampabay.com or (813) 225-3112. Follow @haltman.