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FTS senior advisor files civil suit against CEO Brett Hill

(Sept. 21, 2017) Former Ocean Pines Association Director Brett Hill is facing a lawsuit filed by a senior advisor to Hill’s company, FTS Fiber, that alleges Hill failed to repay a loan.
Kenneth Lawhorn filed the suit in the Worcester County Circuit Court against Hill on Friday, alleging Hill did not pay back the balance of an $80,000 loan.
Hill resigned from the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors last Friday.
According to the complaint, Lawhorn extended the loan to Hill on June 9, 2016 for use as company capital. In the original promissory note, Hill was to repay the loan in full by Sept. 30, 2016 and transfer one share of FTS stock to Lawhorn by Oct. 21, 2016.
On Sept. 30, however, Hill delivered an amended promissory note to Lawhorn that extended the deadline until Dec. 23, 2016 and promised him two additional shares of company stock.
The suit contends that Hill did not pay Lawhorn anything until this year. The complaint states Hill made three payments of $11,515, on June 23, July 7 and Aug. 3, 2017.
As of Sept. 15, Hill still owes $55,164.28, based on the original loan and an interest rate of 1.5 percent, according to the suit.
Lawhorn is suing for breach of contract and unjust enrichment. A summons was issued last Friday.
No court date was set as of midweek.
Lawhorn addressed the Ocean Pines Association Board last December on behalf of Hill and FTS, to ask for an easement to install fiber optic internet infrastructure.
Rachel N. Mech and Edward Hutchinson Robbins, Jr. of Miles & Stockbridge, PC, represent him in the case.
Mech, on Monday, said, “Our firm represents Mr. Longhorn as a senior advisor in one of the companies owned by Mr. Hill.” She declined to comment further.